vj.EcrKimi.  Handbook 


-\V 


MEMORANDUM. 


This  electrical  handbook  is  one  of  a  series 
of  ten  similar  handbooks  prepared  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  American  Institute  of  Electrical 
Engineers  by  the  local  Reception  Committees  in  the 
Cities  of  Boston,  New  York,  Schenectady,  Montreal. 
Niagara  Falls,  Chicago,  St.  Louis.  Pittsburg,  Wash- 
ington, and  Philadelphia.  These  are  the  stopping 
places  on  the  circular  tour  organized  by  the  Institute 
for  the  reception  and  entertainment  of  its  foreign  guests 
who  visit  the  United  States  in  connection  with  the 
International  Electrical  Congress  at  St.  Louis,  Septem- 
ber 12th  to  17th,  1904.  It  is  hoped  in  these  hand- ^^ 
books  to  present  short  historical  sketches  of  the  cities  " 
visited  and  a  rapid  survey  of  the  power  plants  and 
important  electrical  industries  along  the  route. 

Chicago. 


No.  276 


'-■jn^e/n-fd-   «k. 


id 


LOCAL  RECEPTION  COMMIHEE 


BOSTON    MASS. 


THE  CHICAGO 

ELECTRICAL 
HANDBOOK 


Being  a  Guide  for  Visitors  from  Abroad 
Attending  the  International  Electri- 
cal Congress,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
September,    1904 


Printed  for  Private  Circulation 


Cljicap 

Issued  under  the  auspices  of 

\     The    Am  erica  n    Institute    of 
Electrical    Engineers\ 
1904 


COPYRIGHT,  1904 

BY 

THE  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE  OF 

ELECTRICAL  ENGINEERS 


BINNER-WELLS    CO. 

ENGRAVERS    AND    PRINTERS 

CHICAGO 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

General  Introduction 5 

Electric  Light  and  Power  Service 

Central  Station  Situation  in  Chirar/o 21 

Chicago  Edison  Company 37 

Commonwealth   Electric    Compam/ 67 

Electric  Transportation  and  Telephone 
Service 

Elevated  Railwaij.'i'  of  Chicago 93 

Illinois  Tunnel  Company 97 

Aurora,  Elgin  and  Chicago  Railway Ill 

Chicago  Telephone  Company 115 

Electrical  Manufactures 

Western  Electric  Company 127 

Water  Power  and  Electrical  Transmis- 
sion 

The  Sanitary  and  Ship  Caned 147 

Some    Interesting    Applications   of    Elec- 
trical Power 
Electrically   Operated   Pumping   Station  at 

Bridgeport 169 

Packing  by  Electricity 175 

Electricity  in  the  Manufacture  of  Harvesting 

Machinery 177 

Electric  Fire  Pump 183 

Electrically     Operated    Lift    and    Draw 

Bridges 187 

ir.  ir.  Kimball  Company 195 

Illinois  Steel  Company 197 


INTRODUCTION 


INTRODCTTION 

The  pvirpose  of  this  handbook  is  to  furnish  visiting 
delegates  of  the  International  Electrical  Congress  with  a 
concise  description  of  Chicago  and  its  larger  electrical 
interests.  Inasmuch  as  many  of  the  delegates  are 
doubtless  unfamiliar  with  Chicago's  history,  it  may  be 
permissible  to  offer  a  very  brief  resum^  of  the  city's 
origin  and  growth. 

The  early  French  cartographers  spelled  C-hicago  in 
wliatever  way  pleased  their  fancy — Chickagu,  Chikagou, 
Chicago  and  Chicaqu.  Historians  of  a  later  date  have 
been  even  more  decorative  in  their  definitions  of  the 
word.  Without  attempting  to  enter  into  the  subtleties 
of  Indian  terminology,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  quote  a 
statement  made  by  Dr.  William  Barry,  first  Secretary 
of  the  Chicago  Historical  Society,  who  says:  "Whatever 
may  have  been  the  etymological  meaning  of  the  word 
'Chicago,'  in  its  practical  use  it  probably  denotes  strong 
or  great.  The  Indians  applied  this  term  to  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  to  thunder,  or  to  the  voice  of  the  Great 
Manitou.  Edward  Hulibard,  the  genealogist,  adopts  a 
similar  view  and  says  that  the  word  Chicago,  in  its  appli- 
cations, signifies  strong,  mighty,  powerful." 

The  aboriginal  owners  of  Chicago  were  the  Miamis. 
Louis  Joliet  and  his  fellow  explorer,  the  Jesuit  mission- 
ary, Jacques  Marquette,  were  probably 

^"'"'i/    ,.  the  first  white  men  to  land  on  the  site  of 

Exploration 

Cliicago,  when  they  explored  the  Illinois 
river  in  1673.  At  any  rate,  the  adventurous  Robert 
Cavelier,  Sieur  de  La  Salle,  has  left  us  a  very  clear 
account  of  his  trip  down  the  Mississippi  in  1681,  via  the 
"Chicago  portage."  This  portage  is  noteworthy  because 
it  determined  the  location  of  Chicago.  It  was  the 
shortest  and  easiest  passage  from  Lake  Micliigan  to  the 
7 


8  I  n  t  to  (I  II  c  t  {  o  n 

Mississippi,  and  the  red  man  liad  used  it  from  time 
immemorial.  Joliet  at  once  perceived  the  possibiHty  of 
going  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Mississippi  in  boats, 
and  advised  tlie  Canadian  authorities  that  "there  would 
be  but  one  canal  to  make,  by  cutting  half  a  league  of 
prairie,  to  pass  from  the  lake  of  Illinois  (Lake  Michigan) 
into  St.  Louis  river  (the  Desplaines),  which  empties  into 
the  Mi-ssissippi."  La  Salle,  revisiting  the  place  in  1682, 
ridiculed  the  scheme  as  impracticable  and  poked  fun  at 
Joliet's  "proposed  ditch."  Two  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  years  later  the  proposed  ditch  was  dug.  It  cost 
$42,000,000  and  is  known  simply  as  the  sanitary  and 
ship  canal.  When  it  was  opened  hi  1900  the  current  of 
the  Chicago  river  was  reversed,  the  waters  of  Lake 
Michigan  were  poured  into  the  Mississippi  and  the  Great 
Lakes  were  linked  by  a  navigable  route  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  Louis  Joliet's  right  to  a  charter  membership  on 
the  drainage  canal  board  would  seem  to  be  beyond 
dispute. 

In  the  summer  of  1803  Captain  John  Whistler,  L'.S.A., 
then  stationed  at  Detroit,  was  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Chicago  with  his  company  and  construct 
Fort  Dearborn  ^  fort,  which  was  named  Fort  Dearborn, 
Massacre  [^^  honor   of   General   Henry   Dearborn, 

then  Secretary  of  War.  At  this  time  the 
settlement  comprised  three  or  four  cabins,  occupied  by 
French-Canadian  traders  and  their  Indian  wives.  In 
1812,  owing  to  reverses  sustained  by  the  Americans  at 
Fort  Mackinac,  Captain  Nathan  Heald,  who  succeeded 
Captain  Whistler  as  commandant  of  the  garrison  in  1810, 
was  ordered  to  evacuate  Fort  Dearborn  and  return  with 
his  force  to  Detroit.  Shortly  after  their  departure  from 
the  fort,  the  little  band  of  soldiers  and  settlers  was  way- 
laid and  massacred  bj^  hostile  Indians.  The  site  of  this 
tragedy,  at  what  is  now  the  intersection  of  Prairie  avenue 
and  Eighteenth  street,  is  marked  by  a  monument  com- 
memorating the  heroic  and  hopeless  struggle  of  these 
brave  pioneers  against  an  overwhelming  force  of  savages. 

The  seed  of  a  great  city,  however,  had  been  sown,  and 


I  N  t  r  ()  d  i(  (■  f  I  <)  n  9 

neither  the  massacre  of  1812  nor  tlie  liolocaust  of  1871 
could  destroy  it.  Civilization  had  come  to  stay  in  Chi- 
cago, and  savagery  was  to  lie  thrust  thenceforth  farther 
and  farther  westward  into  the  retreating  wilderness. 
Fort  Dearborn  was  rebuilt  on  a  larger  scale,  the  settlers 
returned  in  greater  numbers,  and  the  close  of  the  Black- 
hawk  War  in  1832  marked  the  collapse  of  Indian  suprem- 
acy east  of  tlie  Mississippi.  In  1833  Chicago,  liaving 
barely  the  required  number  of  150  inhabitants,  became 
an  incorporated  town,  and  four  years  later  was  incor- 
porated as  a  city,  with  an  area  of  about  ten  square  miles. 
That  was  sixty-seven  years  ago.  In  1903  the  population 
of  Chicago,  according  to  the  city  directory,  was  esti- 
mated at  2,241,000,  and  its  area  a  trifle  imder  200 
square  miles.  That  such  a  rapid  growth  should  be 
possible  within  the  span  of  an  ordinary  lifetime,  is  a 
fact,  the  simple  statement  of  which  speaks  eloquently 
of  Chicago's  unconquerable  spirit. 

The  great  Chicago  fire,  which  occurred  in  the  autumn 
of  1871,  practically  wiped  the  city  off  the  map,  destroy- 
ing three  and  one-half  square  miles  of 
The  Great  Fire  property,  \'alued  at  about  $200,000,000, 
and  sacrificing  over  200  lives.  At  that 
time  the  total  population  was  about  300,000,  but  out  of 
the  ashes  of  the  old  city  a  new  one  soon  arose,  larger  and 
more  enduring  than  its  prototype.  In  1870  the  popu- 
lation of  Cliicago  was  298,977;  in  1880,  503,185;  in  1890, 
1,099,850;  in  1900,  1,698,575;  last  j-ear  it  was  estimated 
at  2,241,000. 

The  foregoing  figures  predicate  something  more  than 
mere  growth  of  population  and  increase  of  area,  for 
though  Chicago  is  the  second  largest  American  city 
in  point  of  population,  it  has  few  superiors  in  the  magni- 
tude and  importance  of  its  manufacturing  and  mercan- 
tile activities. 

The  commercial  strength  of  Chicago  is  derived  not 
alone  from  its  strategic  position  as  one  of  the  largest  in- 
dustrial centers  of  the  United  States,  nor  from  the 
ramifications  of  its  extensive  operations   in    food    prod- 


10  I  n  f  r  o  d  u  c  t  i  o  n 

ucts,  cereals,  steel  rails,  machinery  and  other  merchan- 
dise, but  from  the  fact  tliat  the  termini  of  twenty-six 
railroads,  aggregating  over  84,000  miles  of  railway  (or 
more  than  one-third  the  total  railway  mileage  of  the 
United  States),  are  here  focused  to  pour  their  concen- 
trated wealth  of  traffic  upon  the  Chicago  market.  A 
large  amount  of  this  freight  is  also  handled  by  the  fleets 
of  the  Great  Lakes,  which,  plying  between  Chicago  and 
eastern  ports,  carry  immense  quantities  of  grain,  lumber, 
coal,  ore  and  other  products,  the  tonnage  of  vessels 
entering  and  clearing  the  port  of  Chicago  amounting  to 
15.307,635  in  1903. 

The  down-town  business  district  of  Chicago  is  confined 
to  a  remarkably  small  and  congested  peninsula  bounded 

on  three  sides  bj^  Lake  Michigan  and 
Modern  Chicago     branches  of  the  Chicago  river.     In  the 

heart  of  this  square  mile  of  sky-scrapers 
lies  the  retail  shopping  district,  seven  blocks  in  length 
and  five  blocks  wide.  Here,  in  an  astonishingly  short 
space  of  time,  the  visitor  may  traverse  the  principal 
thoroughfares  and  inspect  the  city's  leading  business  and 
public  institutions.  Michigan  avenue,  which  borders  the 
lake,  and  is  separated  therefrom  by  Lake  Front  Park,  is 
devoted  principally  to  hotels,  clubs,  musical  colleges  and 
studio  buildings.  Here  are  located  the  Art  Institvite  and 
the  Public  Library;  here  also  are  to  be  erected  in  the 
near  future  a  temple  of  music  for  the  Chicago  Orchestra, 
and,  v.hen  tlie  park  is  extended  and  completed,  a 
permanent  home  for  the  Field  Columbian  Musevmi, 
now  housed  in  the  old  World's  Fair  Art  Building  at 
Jackson  Park. 

West  of  Michigan  avenue  is  Wabash  avenue,  a  high- 
wny  for  the  down-town  loop  as  well  as  for  surface  lines 
penetrating  the  South  Side,  and  the  home  of  many  large 
wholesale  concerns.  One  block  west,  Wabash  avenue  is 
paralleled  by  State  street,  the  main  artery  and  principal 
sliopping  thoroughfare  of  the  city.  At  its  northern  end 
stands  the  vast  bulk  of  the  famous  Masonic  Temple,  from 
tlie  roof  of  which,  354  feet  above  the  street  level,  a  fine 


•/JS::^^^:^' ; 


12  I  nt  r  ()  d  u  ct  I  o  n 

panoramic  view  of  the  city  and  lake  may  be  enjoyed. 
The  whole  block  immediately  south  of  the  Temple  is 
occupied  by  the  several  fine  buildings  of  Marshall 
Field  &  Company,  unquestionably  the  largest  and  finest 
mercantile  establishment  in  America.  This  immense 
retail  store  has  a  floor  area  of  twenty-three  acres,  is 
equipped  with  fifty  elevators,  lighted  by  an  equivalent 
of  40,000  sixteen  candle-power  lamps,  and  is  frequently 
visited  in  one  day  by  as  many  as  200,000  people.  Many 
other  large  retail  houses  and  office  buildings  line  both 
sides  of  State  street,  from  Lake  street  on  the  north  to 
Congress  street  on  the  south,  and  midway  is  situated  one 
of  Chicago's  largest  and  oldest  hotels.  Dearborn  street, 
the  next  street  west,  is  walled  in  by  such  an  imposing 
double  line  of  sky-scrapers  as  to  suggest  a  deep  and 
wind-swept  mountain  gorge.  On  this  street  the  First 
National  Bank  Building  is  now  in  course  of  construc- 
tion; when  completed  it  will  contain  9,000,000  culnc 
feet  of  space.  On  a  square  formed  by  the  intersection 
of  Dearborn,  Jackson,  Adams  and  Clark  streets,  the 
massive  granite  Government  building  is  now  nearing 
completion,  its  tremendous  gilded  dome  towering  far 
above  the  surrounding  structures  and  dominating  the 
whole  city.  Three  blocks  north,  between  Clark  and 
La  Salle  streets,  are  located  the  municipal  and  county 
administration  buildings,  and  on  La  Salle  street  are  the 
Stock  Exchange,  the  Board  of  Trade,  the  Illinois  Trust 
and  Savings  Bank  Building  and  a  number  of  other  fine 
structures  devoted  largely  to  lianking  and  insurance 
interests. 

Still  farther  west  lies  a  portion  of  the  city's  wliolesale 
district,  and  beyond  the  river,  in  zones  of  varying  size, 
are  manufacturing  settlements  and  guburl)an  residence 
districts  extending  north,  south  and  west  for  distances 
ranging  from  twenty  to  tliirty  miles. 

The  environs  of  Chicago  are  encircled  by  a  beautiful 
system  of  parks  and  boulevards,  the  scope  of  which  is 
constantly  being  enlarged  to  keep  pace  with  a  rapidly 
increasing  population.      .\  complete  circuit  of  the  parks 


/  n  t  r  ()  (I  u  rf  i  o  n  13 

and  their  coiiiiectiiiff  IjoalevarJs  iiuiy  l)e  made  very  pleas- 
antly in  three  or  four  hours,  covering  a  distance  of  forty 
or  fifty  miles,  and  this  is  a  very  popular 

The  Park  and        automobile  trip    for  visitors    who  desire 
Boulevard  *        i  *    •  i-  r  ^i        -^    >  .1     .• 

System  to  obtain  a  glimpse  of  the  city  s  a'sthetic 

development  as  expressed  in  its  places  of 
amusement  and  outdoor  recreation,  its  picturesque 
drives,  artistic  homes  and  fine  educational  institutions. 
The  University  of  Chicago,  located  near  Jackson  Park, 
is  one  of  the  youngest  and  largest  universities  in  the 
United  States,  and  its  noble  groups  of  buildings  are 
models  of  architectviral  beauty.  Four  thousand  five 
hundred  students  attended  the  university  in  1903;  the 
present  endowment  is  $15,000,000,  but  the  powerful 
support  of  Mr.  Rockefeller  and  other  wealthy  and  pub- 
lic-spirited men  will  proliably  quadruple  this  amount 
within  the  next  decade. 

Chicago  is  exceptionally  rich  in  her  technical  schools, 
chief  of  which   are  the  Lewis  Institute  and  the  Armour 

Institute  of  Technology.  The  latter 
Facilities'^  school,  located  at  Thirty-third  street  and 

Armour  avenue,  was  founded  by  the 
late  Philip  D.  Armour,  and  its  president  is  the  Rev. 
Frank  W.  Gunsaulus.  The  institute  offers  a  very 
broad  and  thorough  four-years  course  in  the  various 
branches  of  engineering,  and  connected  with  it  is  the 
American  School  of  Correspondence,  which  presents 
similar  courses  for  the  instruction  of  students  who  are 
unable  to  attend  the  institute  in  person.  Lewis  Insti- 
tute, founded  under  the  will  of  Allen  C.  Lewis,  is  a  school 
of  engineering  and  the  applied  arts,  dedicated  to  the 
teaching  of  science,  literature  and  technology.  It  has  a 
total  attendance  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  students, 
over  half  this  number  attending  the  evening  classes.  It 
has  an  endowment  of  $1,000,000  and  receives  an  income 
of  $50,000  from  tuition  fees.  The  institute  is  under 
the  directorship  of  George  N.  Carman,  and  is  located  at 
the  intersection  of  West  Madison  and  Robey  streets. 
Chicago    has    built    up    a   \ery  efficient  public  school 


14  Introduction 

system.  ''  \  ^.vliich  it  spends  over  $12,000,000  annu- 
ally for  the  free  education  of  its  children.  During 
the  first  half  of  1903  *he  enrollment  showed  a 
total  attendance  of  258,968  pupils  and  5,444  teach- 
ers. Over  $500,000  is  disbursed  every  month  by 
the  city  to  the  teachers  and  officials  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  as  against  $775,000  paid  to  all  other  city 
employees.  These  figures  are  particularly  significant 
and  interesting,  since  they  serve  to  explain,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  wonderful  ease  and  celerity  with  which 
Chicago  digests  and  assimilates  the  perennial  juvenile 
increment  of  its  large  foreign  population.  From  the 
kindergarten  to  the  high  scliool,  these  children  of  two- 
score  alien  races  rub  elbows  with  the  sturdy  native  stock 
and  not  only  become  thoroughly  "Americanized"  them- 
selves, but  carry  home  to  their  elders  the  broad  and 
wholesome  lessons  of  right  living  and  thinking  which  they 
have  absorbed  at  school. 

There  are  564  publications  issued  in  this  city,  includ- 
ing 33  newspapers  (printed  in  twelve  languages),  46 
religious  periodicals,  35  scientific  jour- 
Newspapers  and  ,jj^ig  ^^j^^j  32  literarj^  papers  and  maga- 
zines. The  total  circulation  of  the  15 
leading  daily   newspapers  is,  2,161,782  copies. 

Space  will  not  permit  more  than  the  mention  of  Chi- 
cago's organized  charities  and  numerous  hospitals, 
nor  more  than  a  passing  reference  to  the  sociolog- 
ical work  being  carried  on  at  tlie  well-known  set- 
tlements of  Hull  House  and  the  Chicago  Commons. 
The  former  was  founded  in  1899  by  Miss  Jane  Addams 
and  Miss  Ellen  Starr;  it  now  occupies  commodious  quar- 
ters in  a  group  of  eight  buildings  situated  at  335  South 
Halsted  street,  and  its  work  is  devoted  to  training  and  up- 
lifting the  polyglot  population  of  that  congested  district, 
with  notable  success.  The  Chicago  Commons  conducts 
a  similar  crusade  of  education  and  social  development  at 
the  corner  of  Grand  avenue  and  Morgan  street,  under  the 
leadership  of  Professor  Grahain  Taylor,  a  broad-minded 
economist  and  untiring  worker  for  civic  betterment. 


I  n  t  r  o  d  u  c  t  i  o  n  15 

Chicago  is  excellently  equipped  with  thr3e  'arnje  public 
libraries — the  Chicago,  the  John  Crerar  and  the  New- 
berry— the  two  latter  being  reference 
libraries  solely  and  the  former  a  reference 
and  circvilating  library.  1  he  Newberry  occupies  an 
imposing  granite  edifice  on  the  north  front  of  Washington 
Square,  and  its  spacious  rooms  and  book-lined  alcoves 
are  a  favorite  haunt  of  students  and  literary  workers. 
It  contains  260,273  volumes  in  its  various  departments 
of  art,  science  and  letters.  The  Crerar,  organized  in 
1895,  is  a  fine  scientific  library  founded  by  the  will  of  the 
late  John  Crerar,  a  wealthy  and  philanthropic  citizen  of 
Chicago.  It  has  at  present  a  collection  of  about  103,000 
volumes,  devoted  almost  wholly  to  the  natural,  physical 
and  social  sciences  and  their  applications.  Its  endow- 
ment amounts  to  $3,400,000  and  it  occvipies  temporary 
quarters  in  the  fifth  and  sixth  floors  of  the  Marshall 
Field  building,  pending  the  proposed  erection  of  a  beau- 
tiful permanent  home  on  Lake  Front  Park.  The  Chicago 
Public  Library,  located  at  the  corner  of  Washington 
street  and  Michigan  avenue,  represents  the  highest  type 
of  modern  methods  in  library  equipment  and  the  hap- 
piest blending  of  utility  with  classic  design.  Its  exterior 
is  severely  simple,  but  this  only  accentuates  the  contrast 
when  the  visitor  passes  within  its  portals  and  stands  on 
the  threshold  of  its  lofty  entrance  hall,  leading  to  two 
stately  stairways  in  pure  white  marble,  inlaid  with 
exquisite  mosaic  patterns  of  green  and  gold.  It  is  prol)- 
ablyone  of  the  most  artistic  examples  of  interior  decora- 
tive effect  in  the  country.  At  the  close  of  the  library 
year.  May  31, 1903,  the  Public  Library  contained  285,000 
volumes,  and  its  aggregate  circulation  for  the  year  was 
1,609,983  volumes,  not  including  the  use  of  reference 
works.  It  is  an  exceptionally  strong  library  in  its  chosen 
field,  and  through  the  medium  of  its  sixt}'-eight  branch 
stations  it  keeps  in  close  touch  with  the  remotest  dis- 
tricts of  the  city.  In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned 
libraries,  Chicago  has  a  number  of  others,  more  or  less 
public    in    their    privileges,    connected    with    the    Field 


1()  I  nf  rod  u  ct  i  o  n 

Columbian  Museum,  Lewis  Institute,  University  of 
Chicago,  Northwestern  University  and  other  institutions. 

Such  a  liost  of  noteworthy  plants,  places  and  buildings 
are  located  in  and  around  Chicago  that  it  is  impossible  to 
mention  all  of  them  and  unfair  to  make 
Stock  Yards  invidious  distinctions,  so  that  many  mat- 

ters of  interest  must  be  either  touched 
upon  very  cursorily,  or  wholly  omitted.  But  no  account 
of  Chicago  would  be  complete  without  some  reference  to 
the  gigantic  live  stock  market  known  as  the  Union  Stock 
Yards,  and  the  various  associated  packing  concerns  that 
constitute  in  their  entirety  the  greatest  center  of  meat 
products  in  the  country.  The  Stock  Yards  district  com- 
prises a  tract  of  about  500  acres,  hedged  with  huge  pack- 
ing plants,  crosshatched  with  22,000  cattle  pens,  grid- 
ironed  by  railway  tracks  and  traversed  in  all  directions 
by  overhead  viaducts.  Half  a  million  cattle,  horses,  sheep 
and  swine  are  often  handled  here  in  one  day.  The  Stock 
Yards  give  direct  employment  to  50,000  men  and  handle 
fifty  per  cent  of  all  the  cattle  slaughtered  in  this  country. 
In  1903,  Chicago  received  16,232,000  animals,  valued  at 
$295,217,000.  The  conversion  of  this  tremendous  amount 
of  raw  material  into  the  innumerable  primary  and  by- 
products for  which  Chicago  is  famous,  is  principally 
accomplished  by  Armour  &  Company,  Swift  &  Company, 
Libby,  McNeill  &  Libby,  Nelson  Morris  ct  Company  and 
several  other  large  firms,  whose  various  industries  in 
packing  and  canning  are  collectively  one  of  the  main 
sources  of  the  world's  meat  supply.  The  Stock  Yards 
district  is  connected  with  all  railways  entering  Chicago 
by  the  Chicago  Junction  Railway  Company,  which  has 
two  belt  lines  around  the  city  and  about  300  miles  of 
trackage. 

A  word  in  conclusion.  According  to  tlie  census  of 
1900,  the  annual  value  of  Chicago's  manvifactures  was 
$8SS,7.S6,311.  Carl  Buck,  Professor  of  Sanskrit  and 
Indo-European  comparative  philology  at  the  University 
of  Chicago,  in  his  work  on  the  "Linguistic  Conditions  of 
(Chicago,"  enumerates  over  forty  foreign  languages  that 


I  nt  roducf  i o  7i  17 

are  spoken  in  this  city.  Here,  then,  is  tlie  extenuation 
for  many  of  the  crude  and  unlovely  conditions  that  are, 
luifortunately,  more  obvious  to  the  casual  visitor  than 
the  promise  of  better  things  which  they  foreshadow. 
Chicago,  the  city  of  factories,  is  also  the  rendezvous  of 
all  nationalities.  At  present  it  is  passing  through  a 
period  of  social  and  industrial  evolution;  it  has  had 
little  time,  as  yet,  for  dreams  and  ideals,  but  it  is  begin- 
ning to  realize  the  potentialities  of  its  environment,  and 
plans  are  now  well  under  way  for  the  conversion  of  its 
downtown  lake  front  into  parks  and  pleasure  grounds, 
which  will  eventually  conceal  the  existing  wilderness  of 
waste  land  and  railway  tracks.  Chicago's  corporate 
existence  as  a  city  covers  only  sixty-seven  years;  its 
faults  are  the  faults  of  youth,  and  any  final  conclusions 
drawn  from  present  conditions  should  be  tempered  by 
this  consideration. 


ELECTRIC  LIGHT    AND  POWER 
SERVICE 


Central  station  Situation  in  Chicago; 
General  Features. 

Since  the  earliest  days  in  the  history  of  electrical 
development,  Chicago  has  been  a  prolific  field  for  the 
application  of  electricity  to  the  requirements  of  light 
and  power  service. 

Turning  back  to  fifteen  years  ago,  we  find  the  "Chicago 
Edison  Company,"  the  "Chicago  Arc  Light  and  Power 
Company,"  and  then  soon  springing  up  the  "Englewood 
Electric  Light  Company,"  and  others  innumerable. 
To-day  there  are  two  companies,  the  "Chicago  Edison 
Company,"  and  the  "Commonwealth  Electric  Company," 
the  latter  having  now  outstripped  the  former  in  gener- 
ating if  not  in  distributing  facilities.  The  Common- 
wealth Electric  Company,  a  composite  formation  of  the 
many  earlier  electric  light  enterprises,  owes  its  birth 
to  the  economical  possibilities  of  combination.  This 
unification  occurred  about  six  years  ago,  and  since 
that  time  entire  harmony  has  characterized  the  co- 
working  of  these  two  companies:  the  Chicago  Edi- 
son Company  generating  and  distributing  electricity 
in  its  territory  and  the  Commonwealth  Company  doing 
likewise  in  its  own  territory.  The  latter,  born  in  a 
period  of  rapid  electrical  development,  was  supplied 
in  its  earlier  years  with  much  of  its  electrical  energy  by 
the  former.  To-day  this  situation  is  reversed  and  the 
Chicago  Edison  Company  is  being  supplied  with  alter- 
nating high  tension  current  for  its  Converting  Sub- 
stations by  the  Commonwealth  Electric  Company  from 
its  new  generating  center,  the   "Fisk  Street  Station." 

Of  the  entire  9,000-volt  output,  the  predominating 
generated  product  of  the  two  companies  for  the  twelve 

21 


22 


The     Chicago 


months  preceding  July  1.  1904,  69.7  per  cent  was 
distributed  on  the  Edison  three- wire  network;  14.7 
per  cent  as  500-volt   direct   current   for  street   railway 


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SHOWING  VARATIONS    IN   TOTAL  AND  CLASSIFIED  GENERATED  OUTPUT 


work,  and    15.6    per    cent    as    alternating    current  for 
lighting  and  general  power. 

The  increase  since  1888  in  total  load  on  the  Chicago 
Edison  and  Commonwealth  Electric  companies'  systems 
is  illustrated   above,  which   also   shows   the  variation    in 


E  I  e  r  t  r  i  c  (I  I     H  a  n  d  hook  '^.S 

annual  maximum  demand  on  the  different  classes  of 
generated  output.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  since  the 
development  of  the  25-cycle  transmission  system  which 
has  taken  place  since  1897,  and  the  consequent  centraliz- 
ing of  generating  capacity  in  the  Harrison  street  station 
of  the  Chicago  Edison  Company,  and  more  recently  in  tlie 
Fisk  Street  Station,  the  proportion  of  electrical  energy 
generated  as  25-cycle  current  is  rapidly  increasing. 

During  the  year  1904,  the  amount  of  energy  generated 
as  250-volt  direct  current  and  also  that  generated  at  60 
cycles  has  begun  to  decrease,  due  to  the  shutting  down 
of  the  Washington  and  56th  street  stations  for  a  large 
portion  of  the  day  during  ten  months  in  the  year. 

In  general,  the  policy  of  these  Central  Station  Com- 
panies is  to  generate  their  output  at  9,000  volts  in  large 
central  stations  by  large  units  and  to  transmit  this 
output  to  the  substations  at  this  pressure.  In  the  sub- 
stations supplying  the  downtown  districts — where  50  per 
cent  of  the  load  is  power,  or,  in  comparison  with  the  total 
generated  load,  14  per  cent  is  elevator  motors  and  21  per 
cent  general  power — low-tension,  direct-current  dis- 
tribution is  used,  the  conversion  being  effected  by  step- 
down  transformers  and  rotaries.  Thus  the  character  of 
the  load  determines  largely  the  kind  of  distribution. 

From  the  description  of  substations  given  later,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  battery  capacity  installed  at  the 
one-hour  rate  is  about  30  per  cent  of  the  total  generating 
capacity,  which  insures  the  system  against  interruption, 
a  factor  paramount  in  central  station  service.  The 
policy  for  the  residence  districts,  where  the  percentage 
of  lighting  load  is  high,  is  to  install  frequency  changing 
sets  and  to  distribute  60-cycle  current  at  2300/4000  volts; 
a  practice  again  admira})ly  adapted  to  the  load  and  the 
district  supplied. 

GENERATING    AND    TRANSMISSION    SYSTEM 

The  Chicago  Edison  Company  supplies  botli  the  busi- 
ness and  older  residence  sections  of  the  city  of  Chicago 
with  direct  current,  employing  for  this  piu'pose  the  well- 


24  The     Chicago 

known  1 15/230-\"olt  Edison  three-wire  system  installed 
under  ground.  Service  is  supplied  by  this  company  for 
all  purposes:  lighting,  general  power  and  elevator  power 
proportionately  in  the  order  named.  The  company 
serves  17,000  customers  with  1,330,000  lights  and  44,270 
horse-power  in  motors. 

The  Chicago  Edison  territory  is  divided  into  four  dis- 
tricts all  interconnected  by  a  vast  network  of  under- 
ground conductors,  the  Chicago  river  being  crossed 
by  submarine  cables  and  undermined  by  tunnels  to 
effect  this  juncture.  Four  stations  with  a  total 
capacity  of  23,000  kilowatts,  and  eighteen  substations 
equipped  with  18,000  kilowatts  in  rotary  converters  and 
12,500  kilowatts  in  batteries  (one  hour  rate  of  discharge), 
supply  these  districts  with  current.  In  addition  a  supply 
of  10,000  kilowatts  is  available  from  the  Commonwealth 
Electric  Company,  thus  insuring  excellent  service  for  the 
customers  of  both  companies. 

The  Chicago  Edison  Company  has  remaining  only  one 
large  generating  station,  the  Harrison  Street  Station, 
which  is  yet  the  mainstay  of  this  company.  The  Wash- 
ington Street  Station,  formerly  interesting  from  the 
standpoint  of  adaptability  of  an  old  plant  to  a  modem 
system  and  ranking  second  to  Harrison  Street,  has  been 
stripped  of  much  of  its  power,  a  large,  new,  rotary  substa- 
tion adjacent  having  been  substituted  to  provide  direct 
current  for  the  Edison  three- wire  system  at  this  point. 
Two  other  so-called  subsidiary  steam  plants  (combined 
generating  plants  and  substations),  viz.,  the  North 
Clark  Street  Station  and  the  Twenty-seventh  Street  Sta- 
tion, complete  the  list  of  generating  plants  of  the  Chi- 
cago Edison  Company. 

The  transmission  system  of  the  Ch  icago  Edison  Company 
is  a  striking  example  of  evolution  and  shows  clearly  the 
wonderful  power-transmitting  possibilities  in  a  crowded 
business  district  of  a  great  municipality,  where  safety, 
reliability  and  appearance  are  factors  of  primary  im- 
portance. The  high  tension  transmission  system  of 
the  Chicago  Edison  Company'  from  the  generating  sta- 


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STATIONS  &  SUB  STATIONS 

CHICAGO  EDISON  COMPANY 

/ICK  ST.  SU8  STATION 
.  DIVISION  ST  •■ 
.  CLARK  ST  " 

OHIO  ST. 
KIN2IE  ST. 
ILLINOIS  ST 
HADDOCK  PL        - 
RANDOLPH  ST.     - 
^BORN  ST.     - 
ADAMS  ST. 
MARKET  ST. 
LYDIA  ST. 

HARRISON  ST.  STATION 
W.  14.  TH  ST  SUB  STATION 
JACKSON  BLVD.  ■■ 
STATE  ST 
21  ST.  ST. 


COMMONWEALTH  ELECTRIC  COMPANY 
SUB     STATION 

20  W.MADISON  ST.  - 

21  MORGAN  ST.      - 

22  FISK  ST. 

23  FISK  ST.  STATION 
2A    56    TH.    ST.    SUB  STATION 
26    HYDE  PARK 
26    S.  CHICAGO 


EXPLANATION 


GENERATING  STATIONS. 


US  STATIONS  DtSTRtBUTING  Dl 
RECT    CURRENT    AND   SUBSIDI 
f  STEAM  PLANT. 


,  DISTRIBUTING  AL- 
CURRENT  AND  SUB* 
(  STEAM  PLANT. 


Electrical     Ha  n  dbook  25 

tions  to  all  substations  is  installed  vuidcrground,  and  so 
thoroughly  has  this  system  been  developed,  installed, 
and  protected  that  it  could  probably  be  used  without 
alteration  for  transmission  at  twice  the  present  system 
potential. 

The  transmission  system  of  the  Commonwealth  Elec- 
tric Company,  employing  as  it  does  the  same  voltage 
arid  frequency,  is  being  rapidly  developed  in  accordance 
with  the  same  high  standard,  thus  making  possible  any 
desired  exchange  of  energy  and  the  best  economy  in 
operation,  of  mutual  advantage  to  the  two  companies. 

The  Commonwealth  Electric  Company  covers  the 
entire  City  of  Chicago,  but  thus  far  has  devoted  itself 
almost  entirely  to  the  outlying  suburban  and  residential 
districts,  leaving  the  business  and  older  residence  sec- 
tions to  the  Chicago  Edison  Compan^^  All  of  this  large 
outlying  territory  is  covered  by  a  2300/-4000-volt,  4-wire, 
3-phase,  60-cyole,  overhead  system  of  primary  distribu- 
tion, supplied  from  two  subsidiary  steam  plants,  the 
Fifty-sixth  Street  and'  the  Lake  View  stations,  and  five 
substatiorts,  the  latter  receiving  energy  from  the  new 
Fisk  Street  Station. 

The  accompanying  map  shows  the  location  of  the 
generating  and  distributing  centers  of  the  two  Central 
Station  Companies  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 

The  pi'oximity  of  these  centers  gives  at  once  a  fair 
indication  of  the  relative  diensity  of  the  load,  at  least  in 
the  older  portion  of  the  city,  in  which,  as  previously 
stated,  the  distribution  is  by  means  of  the  Edison  three- 
wire  direct  current  system. 

CENTRAL    STATION    OPERATING    CONTROL 

The  greater  possibilities  in  central  operating  control  of 
these  two  great  interdependent  companies  were  early 
recognized. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  business,  the  intricate  char- 
acter and  multiplicity  of  apparatus  employed,  made  it 
adA'isable    to    further    concentrate   this    control    of    the 


26  The     C  h  i ca  g o 

operation  of  the  system  and  resulted  in  the  creation  and 
maintenance  of  the  office  of  Load  Dispatcher. 

The  duty  of  the  "Load  Dispatcher"  is  to  perpetuate 
operating  service  and  to  control  the  transmission  and 
transfer  of  any  and  all  "Load,"  that  is,  all  electrical 
energy  between  all  stations  and  substations  of  the  two 
companies.  He  is  thus  particularly  responsible  for  the 
high  potential  transmission  system  and  controls  abso- 
lutely the  operation  of  all  lines,  line  switches,  and  bus 
bar  tie  switches  which  comprise  this  system. 

This  service  is  maintained  throughout  the  twenty-four 
hours  of  the  day  and  recjuires  the  services  of  three  men. 
A  chart  bearing  graphical  representation  of  all  trans- 
mission lines  and  station  busses,  and  characters  repre- 
senting all  generators  and  switches,  is  provided  for  con- 
venient reference.  This  chart  is  manipulated  in  accord- 
ance with  switches  opened  or  closed  or  generators  put  on 
or  taken  off  the  system,  and  represents  at  any  instant 
the  actual  operating  conditions  of  the  system  as  a  whole. 
Direct  telephone  service  with  all  of  the  stations  is  afforded 
through  lines  from  the  many  station  operators  to  an 
exchange  which  the  "Load  Dispatcher"  alone  controls. 

This  in  no  wise  lessens  the  importance  or  the  vigi- 
lance required  in  the  operation  of  the  generating  stations 
or  their  dependent  substations,  but  insures  their  fullest 
co-operation  and  the  most  satisfactory  net  result  in 
maintaining  central  station  service. 

Of  great  importance  also  in  the  operation  of  these  large 
companies  is  their  system  of  central  coal  storage. 

COAL    STORAGE 

But  a  few  years  since  it  was  the  practice  of  the  Chicago 
Edison  Company  to  arrange  with  some  of  the  big  coal 
handling  concerns  of  the  city  for  the  storage  of  a  large 
quantity  of  coal  whenever  there  were  any  indications  of 
an  approaching  shortage  or  restriction  in  coal  supply. 
This  method  soon  proved  unsatisfactory,  and  the  recent 
purchase  of  a  tract  of  land  about  250,000  square  feet  in 


E I  c  cf  r  I  c  (I  I     H  a  n  d  h  o  o  k  '■27 

area,  located  just  across  the  river  from  the  Fisk  Street 
Station,  provides  the  storage  space  for  about  25,000  tons 
of  coal.  This  property  borders  on  the  river  and  is  en- 
tered on  the  south  by  the  tracks  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton 
Railroad.  The  capacity  of  25,000  tons  is  based  on  the 
deposit  in  the  shape  of  an  open  "pile"  or  rather  a  lot  of 
coal  simply  spread  over  the  groimd  from  cars  on  parallel 
tracks.  This  can  be  done  either  by  means  of  a  locomo- 
tive crane  or  by  shoveling  and  wheeling.  This  coal 
reserve  is  about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the  Harrison 
Street  Station  down  the  river,  and  coal  can  be  quickly 
conveyed  to  that  station  whenever  the  occasion  requires. 
A  provision  such  as  this  is,  of  course,  essentially  an 
insurance,  while  economy  demands  that  the  coal  be 
handled  as  infrequently  as  possible.  A  large  quantity, 
say  50,000  tons,  judiciou.sly  l)ought,  can  thus  be  allowed 
to  remain  here  until  the  emergency  necessitating  its  use 
arises.  The  company  is  thus  assured  of  possession  in 
times  of  need. 

STORAGE    BATTERIES 

A  furtJier  safeguard  of  almost  immeasurable  value  to 
their  customers ,  and  particularly  to  those  supplied  with 
direct  current,  is  the  judicious  distribution  over  the  direct 
current  system  of  a  large  capacity  in  storage  batteries. 

The  Chicago  Edison  Company  has  a  large  amount  of 
storage  battery  capacity  distributed  among  its  various 
substations.  About  30  per  cent  of  the  total  annual 
maximimi  demand  can  readily  be  carried  by  the  storage 
batteries  for  one  hour.  The  type  of  battery  used  is 
uniformly  that  of  The  Electric  Storage  Battery  Com- 
pany, the  "Chloride  Type."  This  form  of  cell  is  well 
known,  and  the  continued  installation  of  this  same  type 
of  battery  is  the  best  indication  of  their  satisfactory 
commercial  operation. 

The  installations  up  to  tlie  present  time  have  been 
chiefl}^  for  system  operation,  there  being  only  one  for 
station  operation.  These  different  system  batteries 
range  in  size  from  plates  of  the  G.  type,  33  in  number, 


28  T  he     Chicago 

capable  of  a  1,000-anipere  discharge  rate,  to  plates 
of  tlie  H.  type,  83  in  numlier,  capable  of  6,000-ampere 
discharge  rate;  these  discharge  rates  being  on  a  one- 
hour  basis.  These  system  batteries  average  about  78 
cells,  with  23  end  cells  on  either  side  of  the  three-wire 
system,  and  are  generally  provided  with  two  or  three 
end  cell  switches,  allowing  flexibility  in  charging,  dis- 
charging and  "floating."  The  "end  cells,"  so  called,  are 
those  to  any  one  of  which  connection  can  be  made  at 
will  by  an  end  cell  switch,  thus  varj'ing  the  number  in 
series  and  giving  different  potentials.  Booster  sets, 
capable  of  use  also  as  balancing  sets,  varying  in  size  from 
30  to  100  kilowatts  (one  generator  for  each  78  cells), 
provide  the  necessary  charging  energy  in  all  cases  except 
one,  where  specially  arranged  rotary  converters  afe  em- 
ployed to  give  the  necessary  increased  voltage  for 
charging. 

The  booster  sets  are  three-unit  type,  made  by  the 
General  Electric  Company,  and  consist  of  two  60-volt 
shunt-wound  generators,  mounted  on  the  same  shaft  with 
a  shunt-wound,  250-volt  n^otor.  In  charging,  one  of  the 
generators  is  connected  to  the  positive  and  the  other  to 
the  negati^•e  main  of  the  system,  thus  increasing  the 
pressure  to  a  suitable  voltage. 

Special  features  in  connection  with  the  battery  installa- 
tions of  the  Chicago  Edison  Company  are  apparent  at 
once,  whether  brought  to  notice  through  inspection  or 
detailed  study  of  the  battery  substations.  The  electrical 
indicator,  neater,  more  reliable  and  more  logical  than 
the  previously  used  mechanical  device,  and  the  switch- 
boards, conforming  in  a  general  way  to  the  standardized 
rotary  and  feeder  panels  and  occupying  about  one-half 
the  space  of  the  previous  American  practice,  unite  to 
indicate  the  already  recognized  permanency  of  the 
storage  battery  in   direct  current  distribution  systems. 

The  maintenance  of  the  batteries  is  wholly  in  the 
hands  of  an  expert,  a  storage  battery  superintendent 
who  devotes  his  entire  time  to  this  purpose.  Tests  are 
regularly   made,   so   that   the   condition   of  any  cell  in 


Electrical     Handbook 


29 


any  battery  is  known  at  all  tinies.  If  a  cell  develops 
any  vital  weakness,  steps  are  taken  immediately  to 
overcome  this  defect,  with  the  result  that  batteries  are 
always  in  best  possible  condition. 

A  valuable  aid  to  the  upkeep  of  the  batteries  is  tlie 
practice  of  installing  double  tiers  of  insulators  under  the 
cells.  This  decreases  leakage  to  ground,  facilitates 
inspection,  and  permits  easy  cleaning.  Generous  venti- 
lation, either  natural  or  artificial,  generally  the  latter; 


REPRE.SENT.VTIVP;    B.^TTERV    ROOM 


thorough  sanitary  equipment  and  careful  construction 
render  the  largest  of  the  storage  batteries  of  the  company 
unobjectionable  tenants  in  the  finest  of  buildings. 

The  interior  of  one  of  these  installations  is  given  on 
this  page. 

The  functions  of  the  storage  battery,  mstalled  as  these 
are  m  connection  with  a  large  distribution  system,  are 
well  known,  and  a  record  of  the  performances  of  the 
batteries  of  this  company  shows  how   well  they  fvilfiU 


30 


The     C h i c a g n 


their  purpose.*  Sometimes  a  demand  comes  for  the 
service  of  nearly  all  the  batteries  simultaneously,  and 
their  "readiness  to  serve"  at  such  a  period  makes  them 


12  2  4  6  8  10  12  „        2  4  6  8  10  12 


LOAD    DIAGRAM  FOR  DOWNTOWN"    BUSINESS    DISTRICT,  SHOWING    USE 
OF   STORAGE   BATTERY   AT   PEAK   OF    LOAD 

Curves  1,  2,  3,  and  4  show  loads  on  Randolph  St..   Dearborn  St., 
Market  St.,  and  HarrLson  St.  Substations,  re.spectively. 


a  most  valuable  ally  to  the  central  station  and  an  unfail- 
ing friend  to  its  thousands  of  cvistomers,  large  and  small. 

CENTR.\L    fTATIOX    SUPPLY   TO     LARGE    CONSUMERS 

Some  of  the  largest  wholesale  and  retail  concerns  are 
central  station  dependencies  for  their  light  and  power 
*The  diagram  herewith  shows  a  typical  case  of  this  kind. 


Elect)-  i  c  a  I     H  a  n  d  b  o  o  k 


.'U 


supply,  and  a  detailed  description  of  one  of  tliese  lar^e 
customers  is  given  lierewitli. 

One  of  the  most  notable  examples  of  the  use  of 
electric  current  for  both  power  and  lighting  from  central 
station  service  in  Chicago  is  to  be  seen  on  the  premises 
of  Marshall  Field  &  Company's  large  retail  department 
store.  Tlie  store  in  (juestion  occupies  almost  an  entire 
city  block,  antl  lias  a  floor  area  of  9(10,000  square  feet. 


.M.\RSHALL  FIELD   &    COMPANY  .S   RETAIL  STORE 


The  connected  load  is  3,C.50  l.orse-power  in  motors, 
and  an  equivalent  in  lighting  of  over  40,000  16-candle- 
power  lamps.  Fig.  6  shows  the  exterior  of  the  building. 
When  the  problem  of  providing  power  and  lighting 
mains  arose  at  the  time  the  new  building  was  erected,  it 
was  decided  after  a  most  thorough  investigation  to 
adopt  central  station  service.  Tlie  main  features  which 
led  to  this  decision  were:  The  high  rental  value  of  the 
space  which  would  be  necessary  for  the  installation  of  an 


32  T  h  e     C  hi  ca  go 

isolated  plant,  and  the  necessary  coal  storage;  the 
difficulties  in  arranging  for  a  steady  supply  of  coaJ,  the 
location  of  tlie  building  being  such  that  coal  could  only 
be  deliAcred  in  wagons;  and  contrary  wise  the  fact  that 
the  Chicago  Edison  Company's  system  included  se\'eral 
plants  and  storage  batteries,  all  interconnected,  and  that 
service  was  obtainable  through  three  different  channels. 

Such  a  mercantile  center  requires  a  varied  application 
of  power,  and  the  electrical  features  in  the  installation 
preponderate — electrically  driven  machinery  being  used 
almost  exclusively.  The  mains  of  the  Chicago  Edison 
Company  enter  the  basement  of  the  several  buildings  at 
fourteen  different  points,  feeders  for  light  and  power 
purposes  being  separate  and  so  connected  that  in  case  of 
failure  of  supply  through  one  channel  the  Ipad  .Q9,n  be 
immediately  thrown  to  another.  Switchboards  jpro- 
vided  with  the  necessary  switches  and  meters  for  meas- 
uring tlie  current  are  installed  at  .each  service. 

The  lighting  presents  no  unusual  features ;  there  is  one 
16-candle-power  lamp  installed,  or  its  equivalent,  ifor 
every  twenty  square  feet  of  floor  a,rea.  The  maximum 
variation  of  potential  between  any  two  lamps  in  the 
building  does  not  exceed  twA?  volts.  The  maximum 
power  on  any  tap  circuit  is  660  watts.  The  wiring  is 
done  acco>cdii,i;g  to  the  most  modern  methods,  concealed 
in  the  walls  and  ceilings  and  protected  by  iron  conduit, 
into  which  it  is  drawn.  Each  circuit  is  provided  with 
a  switch  and  enclosed  fuse.  These  switches  and  enclosed 
fuses  are  installed  on  panel  boards  in  fireproof  cal)inets 
on  each  floor. 

There  are  about  200  enclosed  arc  lamps  used  in  the 
various  buildings,  where  the  violet  rays  are  not  detri- 
mental to  their  use.  Incandescent  lamps  are  used 
exclusively  in  the  salesrooms,  the  yellow  light  from 
incandescent  lamps  being  more  desirable  than  the  arc 
lamp  rays.  A  very  efficient  mstallation  of  incandescent 
lamps  in  show  cases  has  been  installed.  Miniature  Jamps 
are  used  in  mirror  reflectors;  the  reflectors  being  installed 
in  the  top  of  the  glass  case,  and  hidden  from  view  by 


Electrical     II  <i  h  d  h  o  o  k  38 

means  of  l)aiid.s  of  silveriiifi;  ahoiit  (avo  inches  wide  inside 
the  glass. 

The  instaUation  of  elevators  is  of  the  tandem  double 
worm  gear  direct  connected  type,  each  being  ecjuipped 
with  a  40  horse-power  motor.  There  are  forty-six  of 
these  elevators  throughout  the  l)uildings,  making  a  total 
of  1,840  horse-power  for  elevator  service  alone.  The 
passenger  elevators  have  a  capacity  of  3,000  pounds 
350  feet  a  minute;  the  freiglit  elevators  liave  a  capacity 
of  3,500  pounds  250  feet  a  minute,  tlie  former  reaching 
a  nuiximum  acceleration  in  the  up  triji  of  from  fi\'e  to 
six  seconds.  The  operating  mechanism  of  tliese  eleva- 
tors is  located  in  tlie  attic.  The  motors  are  controlled 
by  an  electro-magnetic  system.  Besides  the  elevator 
installation  there  are  four  dummy  package  elevators, 
motor  driven.  These  are  autonuitically  operated  by  a 
push  button  system,  which  starts  and  stops  the  elevator 
at  any  floor. 

The  general  power  installation  consists  of  some  150 
motors,  ranging  in  size  from  \  to  125  horse-power.  Tliese 
are  all  220-volt  motors,  some  being  constant  and  others 
of  variable  speed,  according  to  the  requirements.  The 
speed  regulators  are  so  arranged  that  at  a  normal  speed 
no  armatm-e  or  field  resistance  is  introduced,  so  that 
there  is  no  waste  of  energy  when  operating  under  normal 
conditions.  A  reduction  of  50  per  cent  below  normal 
speed  is  obtained  by  armature  resistance,  or  an  increase 
of  33  per  cent  is  obtained  by  field  resistance.  The  am- 
pere turns  of  both  series  and  shunt  field  winding  are  the 
same;  a  better  starting  torque  and  regulation  is  thus 
obtained.  A  great  many  of  the  motors  are  also  equipped 
with  the  Reynolds  silent  cliain,  as  the  floor  space  is 
limited,  prohibiting  the  u.se  of  leather  belts. 

In  addition  a  refrigerating  plant  has  been  installed, 
consisting  of  two  50-ton  duplex  compressors.  The  brine, 
which  is  a  calcium-chloride  solution  of  1,250  degrees 
Beaume,  is  circulated  throughout  the  system  for  cooling 
the  large  fur  vault  located  on  .the  r2tli  floor,  and  refrig- 
erators in  the  kitchens.     As  a  supi)ly  of  dry  air  is  required 


34  T  h  e     C  hicago 

for  the  fur  vault,  which  is  kept  at  15  to  20  degrees  F., 
the  air  is  circulated  by  means  of  a  motor-driven  fan. 
After  it  has  been  through  numerous  coils  the  temperature 
difference  between  the  outgoing  and  incoming  air  varies 
from  4  to  7  degrees.  The  water  for  cooling  is  used  for 
household  purposes,  after  being  discharged  from  the 
ammonia  condensers,  and  as  the  demand  for  water 
greatly  exceeds  the  requirements,  the  system  is  operated 
at  a  high  efficiency.  The  head  pre.ssure  is  125  pounds, 
whereas  the  back  pressure  is  7^  pounds.  Water  for 
drinking  purposes  is  cooled  to  about  40  degrees  F.  by 
means  of  a  Beadelot  coil  filter,  and  forced  by  two  8x6- 
inch  duplex  circulating  pumps  to  various  parts  of  the 
building. 

Two  Ingersoll-Sargent  air  compressors  and  one  8x8- 
inch  Christensen  compressor,  driven  by  ^-ariable  speed 
motors,  supply  air  at  140  and  SO  pounds  respectively 
for  the  elcA'ator  doors  and  carpet  renovators.  Two 
75-horse-power  and  two  40-horse-power  motorsdrivefour 
blowers  of  the  positi^'e  type,  which  maintain  a  2-inch 
vacuum  for  200  stations  of  the  cash  carrier  system.  In 
addition,  motors  operate  five  house  service  pumps, 
supplying  18,0C0  gallons  of  water  per  hour,  and  are 
used  for  miscellaneous  purposes,  such  as  driving  sewing 
machines,  small  tools,  etc. 

The  heating  plant  consists  of  ten  80-horse-power  boilers, 
of  the  Marine  fircl^ox  type,  which  were  formerly  used  for 
supplying  steam  to  the  engines.  These  boilers  are  hand 
fired,  as  they  are  installed  in  very  close  quarters.  Two 
loop  mains,  for  high  or  low  pressure  service,  furnish  the 
steam  for  heating,  cooking  and  many  other  purposes.  A 
pressure  of  40  pounds  is  carried,  this  being  considered 
the  best  for  the  existing  conditions,  avoiding  high  pres- 
sure on  the  boilers  and  at  the  same  time  high  enough  to 
eliminate  the  irregularities  of  hand  firing. 

The  heating  system  is  of  the  single  pipe  type  and  is 
used  in  connection  with  the  Paul  vacuum  system.  In 
the  basement  the  heating  and  ventilating  systems  are 


El  e  ctr  i  ca  I     H  a  n  d  b  o  o  k  8.5 

combined,  a  change  of  air  l)eing  effected  every  twelve 
minutes  by  motor-driven  fans. 

Two  motor-driven  fire  pumps,  eacli  capal)le  of  deliver- 
ing 850  gallons  per  minute,  of  the  horizontal  triplex  type, 
are  used  in  coimection  with  tlie  sprinkler  system  installed 
throughout  the  building.  A  pressure  of  180  pounds  is 
maintained  on  this  s)\stem.  Separate  feeders  are  run 
from  the  near-by  rotary  conA-erter  and  storage  battery 
substations  to  these  motors,  they  being  entirely  inde- 
pendent of  the  regular  street  mains.  The  installation  of 
these  fire  pumps  is  notable  in  that  they  are  the  first  of 
the  kind  to  be  installed  to  take  the  place  of  constant- 
rvmning  steam  pumps,  which  the  imderwriters  have  pre- 
viously specified  for  the  sprinkler  system  where  low  rates 
of  insurance  are  allowed. 

The  Chicago  Edison  and  Connnonwealtli  Electric  com- 
panies have  both  been  remarkal)ly  successful  in  securing 
customers  who  formerly  operated  their  own  isolated 
plants.  The  result  has  been  that  very  rarely  an  isolated 
electric  plant  is  installed  in  any  new  building,  and  com- 
paratively few  isolated  plants  remain  in  old  buildings  in 
tlie  downtown  business  district  of  the  city. 


Chicago  Hdisou   Coiupaiiy 

HAHHISON     STREET     STATION 

This,  the  niaui  <:;eiierathio-  station  of  tlie  Chicago 
Edison  Company,  enibociios  many  indications  of  the 
growth  of  the  company,  and  illustrates  as  well  the 
advance  in  central  station  practice. 

Essentially  a  direct  current  station,  it  has  been  en- 
larged until  one  finds  now  a  great  direct  current  station 
supplying  customers  directly,  a  large  alternating  current 
generating  station  svipplying  a  considerable  number  of 
substations,  double  current  machines  performing  either 
function  or  doing  duty  as  rotary  converters,  and,  installed 
under  the  same  roof,  a  large  storage  battery.  The 
diagram  on  page  38  shows  the  load  conditions  prevail- 
ing at  this  plant  at  the  time  of  the  present  writing. 

The  Harrison  Street  Station  occupies  a  plat  of  land  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Chicago  river 
at  Harrison  street.  The  station  has  been  enlarged  until 
every  available  foot  of  ground  is  occupied.  The  river  on 
the  east  and  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  tracks  on  the 
west  provide  facilities  for  coal  delivery. 

The  building,  the  exterior  of  w.iich  is  shown  on  page  39, 
is  a  steel  structure.  Red  pressed  brick  walls  give  a  tone 
to  the  building  not  unfavorable  in  comparison  with  large 
structures  in  the  vicinity  devoted  to  less  active  purposes. 
On  the  south  there  is  an  annex  containing  the 
offices  and  3,800  kilov/atts  of  alternating  current  gener- 
ating machinery.  The  large  central  portion  of  the 
building  from  east  to  west  contains  the  older  direct 
current  generators,  aggregating  6,400  kilowatts  in  capac- 
ity. Just  north  of  this  is  the  old  boiler  room,  and  at  the 
extreme  north  is  the  storage  battery  annex. 

In   the   old   boiler   room    there   are   24   Heine   boilers 
37 


38 


The     Chicago 


equipped  with  Babcock  &  Wilcox  chain  grate  furnaces 
aggregating  14,000  horse-power,  and  in  the  south  annex 
there  are  four  Babcock  &  Wilcox  boilers  with  chain 
grates,  each  of  512  horse-power,  making  a  grand  total 
for  the  station  of  about  16,000  boiler  horse-power,  all 
equipped' with    mechanical    stokers    and    chain    grates. 


25 

LOADO 

CVCLG  GENE 

RATEI 

OR  COM 

>  OUTI 

COMPAM 

>0T 

,J.Z 

•   •KG. 

A 

< 

A 

roTAU 

A 

^^ 

i 

2 

T 

\ 

v^ 

-/ 

^ 

^ 

\ 

\         1 

\ 

1         1 

1 

HpiSK  S 

\ 

T.  ST* 

V 

^ 

\, 

N 

/ 

J 

^\ 

^i 

\J 

\ 

\ 

y 

/    i^ 

|P^^\ 

TA.-^ 

^ 

HA 

IRISO 

i  ST.E 

12  , 


8 


10 


12 


8 


■  AM  P  M 

LOAD  DIAGRAM,  SHOWIXG  RELATIVE  LOAD   ON   PRINCIPAL   GENERAT- 
ING  STATIONS 


Four  steel  stacks,  188  feet  in  heiglit  and  13  feet  in  diam- 
eter, furnish  the  draught  for  the  boilers  in  the  old  boiler 
plant,  while  another  175  feet  in  height  and  9  feet  in 
diameter  performs  a  similar  function  for  the  four  boilers 
in  the  new  annex. 

One  Robbins  and  two  McCaslin  conveyors  supply  coal 
^o  the  1.000-ton  bunkers  above  the  boilers. 


Electrical     Handbook 


39 


Upon  entering  the  engine  room  one  is  impressed  with 
the  varying  size  and  the  nunil)er  of  units  employed  in  the 
generation  of  electricity,  and  it  is  at  once  apparent  how 
conditions  imposed  by  a  rapid  business  development 
may  be  met  when  demands  are  made  upon  engineering 
concerns.  As  I)efore  stated,  there  is  a  great  variety  of 
apparatus,  yet  it  is  well  disposed  and  the  general  appear- 
ance of  the  station  conveys  the  impression  of  a  great, 
powerful,     though     compact,     generating    center.     The 


EXTERIOR  OF    HAHRISOX    STREET    STATION 


large,  double-decked  switchboard  gallery  at  the  east  end 
of  the  central  aisle  has  lost  none  of  its  attractiveness, 
although  additions  and  alterations  innumerable  have 
created  an  electrical  metamorphosis  in  its  vital  parts. 
Adjacent  to  it  at  the  south  is  the  alternating  current 
switchboard,  with  generator  and  line  control  panels. 

These  switchboards  on  the  operating  gallery  are  varied 
in  construction  and  purpose.  The  old  direct  current 
board  belonging  to  the  original  installation  controls  the 
direct  current    machines,    the    generator   control   panels 


40  The     C  h  ica  g  o 

forming  a  lower  tier,  while  above  these  are  the  feeder 
panels.  Heavy  copper  construction  behind  this  board 
and  comparatively  little  secondary  wiring  for  the  switch- 
board are  typical  of  the  days  of  manual  control. 

A  later  addition,  the  new  high-tension  control  switch- 
board, is  of  the  type  combining  the  instrument  panel 
and  the  operating  tajjle.  On  the  instrument  panels  are 
indicating  meters  for  the  lines  and  machines,  while  on 
the  operating  table  are  the  controls  for  the  various  oil 
switches. 

On  the  engine  room  floor  there  is  a  group  of  direct 
current  engine-driven  units,  6  in  numl)er.  These  are  all 
of  the  vertical,  triple-expansion  type,  two  being  of 
Edison  General  Electric  design  (94  revolutions  per  min- 
ute) and  the  other  of  the  Southwark  Foundry  design 
and  manufacture  (120  revolutions  per  minute).  Each 
is  rated  at  1,200  horse-power  and  is  direct  connected  to 
two  400-kilowatt,  direct-current,  multipolar,  150-volt, 
shvmt-wound  generators,  one  of  which  operates  on  the 
positive  and  the  other  on  the  negative  side  of  the  three- 
wire  direct-current  system.  These  machines  have  been 
in  actiA'e  operation  for  about  ten  years  and  are  still  doing 
good  service. 

Four  more  Southwark  engines,  of  600  horse-power 
each,  having  two  200-kilowatt,  direct-current  machines 
direct  connected  and  of  the  same  type  as  above,  com- 
plete the  Harrison  Street  Station  of  the  19th  Centviry. 
Among  these  are  two  pair  of  double-current  generators, 
rated  on  the  alternating  current  end  as  3-phase,  25-cycle, 
85-volt  machines.  The  pressure  of  these  machines  is 
raised  to  9,000  volts  by  means  of  six  150-kilowatt  air 
blast  transformers. 

Next  are  the  large  vmits,  defining  clearly  the  new 
epoch  in  the  station's  development.  The  first  is  a  3,500- 
horse-power,  vertical,  cross-compound  Allis  engine,  rim- 
ning  at  75  revolutions  per  minute,  driving  a  2,500- 
kilowatt,  double-current  generator,  giving  170-volt, 
6-phase,  25-cycle  alternating  current  or  300-volt  direct 
current.     The  outnut  of  this  machine  is  ''stepped    up" 


Electrical     H  a  ti  d  h  o  o  k  41 

to  9,000  volts  by  mcaii.s  of  two  banks  of  tliree  450- 
kilowatt,  single-phase,  air-blast  transformers. 
jl>  The  second  large  unit  is  a  5,000-horse-power,  vertical, 
cross-compound  Allis  engine,  nnining  at  75  revolutions 
per  minute,  driving  a  3,500-kilowatt,  0,000-volt,  25- 
cycle,  3-phase  alternator. 

In  the  annex  there  is  a  3,000-liorse-power  horizontal 
tandem  compound,  old  type,  Corliss  engine,  running  at 
60  revolutions  per  minute,  and  driving  through  a  rope 
transmission  two  1,000-kilowatt,  25-cycle,  9,000-volt, 
3-phase  generators;  and  a  2,500-horse-power,  vertical, 
cross-compound  Allis-Clialmers  engine  direct  connected 
to  an  l.SOO-kilowatt  General  Electric,  25-cycle,  9,000- 
volt,  3-phase  generator.  These  alternating  current  gen- 
erators are  controlled  from  the  panels  installed  on  the 
operating  galler}^  in  the  main  engine  room. 

In  the  North  Annex  of  the  building  there  is  installed  a 
battery  for  service  on  the  three-wire  system  on  the 
Chicago  Edison  Company.  It  consists  of  160  H.-61 
cells  with  discharge  rate  of  4,500  amperes  at  one  hour 
rate.  There  is  also  a  three-unit  booster  set  for  charging 
the  battery,  which  consists  of  a  motor  driving  two  gen- 
erators of  1,500-ampere,  70-volt  capacity,  with  necessary 
controlling  panels  for  booster  and  batteries. 

The  high-tension  bus  and  lir.e  system  is  taken  care  of 
in  rooms  which  have  been  added  on  the  interior  of  the 
station.  In  these  structures  the  different  compartments 
are  known  as  "Switch  Rooms,"  and  cable  running  on 
insulators  beneath  the  oil  switches  or  practically  in  the 
floor  of  these  rooms  is  employed  in  the  construction  of 
the  bus.  In  these  various  "Switch  Rooms"  there  have 
been  installed  many  high-tension  solenoid  operated 
switches  necessary  for  control  of  the  generators  and  of  the 
outgoing  lines. 

W.'\SHINGTON    STREET     STATION 

Until  six  months  ago  this  station  was  second  in  impor- 
tance to  the  Harrison  Street  Station.  It  formerly  con- 
tained a  greater  variety  of  electrical  generating  apparatus 


42  The     Chicago 

than  any  other  station  of  the  company.  First  the  series 
arc  equipment  of  about  2,000-Hght  capacity  was  dis- 
posed of,  the  arcs  being  changed  over  to  constant  poten- 
tial system;  next  the  load  carried  by  a  single-phase, 
alternating-current  equipment  of  about  500  kilowatts 
was  taken  over  by  other  stations,  until  now  the  last 
remaining  500-volt  power  load  is  being  changed  over  to 
the  three-wire  system  and  nothing  remains  except  the 
direct-current  equipment. 

The  building,  rather  irregular  in  outline,  constructed 
of  brick  in  a  plain  manner  characteristic  of  stations  of 
the  earlier  type,  is  situated  on  the  Chicago  river  at  Wash- 
ington street,  and  nearer  the  center  of  the  downtown 
district  than  any  other  generating  station.  This  plant 
has  been  operated  continuously  for  the  fifteen  years 
preceding  May  1st,  1904.  Formerly  there  were  three 
floors  to  this  station,  the  bottom  being  the  engine  room 
with  the  direct  connected  direct  current  units;  the  second 
floor  contained  the  direct  current  switchboard  and  other 
switchboards  and  all  the  series  arc  and  60-cycle  alter- 
nating machinery,  while  the  floor  above  was  used  as  a 
counter-shaft  room  for  the  belted  units  on  the  second 
floor. 

The  boiler  room  at  the  north  end  still  contains  six 
Edgemoor  boilers,  with  a  total  of  3,250  horse-power,  and 
four  Climax  boilers  of  500  horse-power  each.  The  en- 
gines and  generators  still  in  service  are  the  following: 

One  1,500-horse-power  Tandem  Compound  Southwark 
engine,  running  at  120  revolutions  per  minute,  direct 
connected  to  a  1,000-kilowatt,  General  Electric,  300-volt, 
direct-current  generator. 

One  1,000-horse-power,  cross-compound  Williams 
engine,  120  revolutions  per  minute,  driving  a  700-kilo- 
watt,  300-volt,  direct-current  generator. 

Four  Porter  Allen  tandem  compound  engines,  550 
horse-power  each,  driving  eight  225-kilowatt,  135-volt, 
direct-current  generators,  half  being  on  the  positive  and 
half  on  the  negative  side  of  the  system. 

Three   500-horse-power   tandem    compound    Williams 


Electrical     Handbook  48 

engines,  132  revolutions  per  minute,  driving  six  250- 
kilowatt,  135-volt  generators. 

The  contemplated  operation  of  this  station,  with  its 
5,000  kilowatts  of  generating  capacity,  as  an  annual 
"Peak"  plant,  gives  a  striking  illustration  of  the  extent 
to  which  it  is  permissible  to  carry  the  principle  of  "Peak" 
operation  of  plants  when  the  more  modern  and  econom- 
ical plants  are  available. 

It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  owing  to  the  high  cost  of 
coal  conveyance  to  this  plant  the  boilers  have  been 
equipped  for  gas  burning,  and  for  several  seasons  the 
station  has  been  operated  in  tliis  manner  very  satisfac- 
torily. 

CHICAGO     EDISON     SUB.STATIONS 

Prominent  among  the  features  of  these  substations 
are  the  switchboards  of  the  company's  design,  well 
built,  handsome  in  appearance  and  as  safe  as  electrical 
apparatus  can  be  made  witii  every  detail  thoroughly 
worked  out.  Special  attention  is  given  to  the  back  of 
the  switchboards  with  respect  to  both  the  wiring  and  the 
provision  for  working  space  and  also  to  the  protection 
of  cables  leading  from  tliem.  On  the  switchboard  itself 
are  installed  the  best  operating  devices  procurable  and 
every  panel  is  laid  out  with  a  view  toward  simplicity  of 
control,  so  essential  to  successful  routine  and  emergency 
operation. 

Throughout  the  direct-current  substations,  with  only 
a  very  few  exceptions,  all  rotaries  and  their  auxiliaries 
are  counterparts,  the  principle  type  of  rotary  being  the 
six-phase,  diametrically  connected,  500  or  1,000  kilowatt 
unit,  with  a  three-phase,  air-cooled  transformer.  These 
rotaries  operate  from  a  9,000-volt,  25-cycle  transmission 
system,  while  current  is  delivered  to  the  direct-current 
system  at  250  volts.  The  center  of  the  low-tension  side 
of  the  three-phase  transformers  furnislies  a  neutral  con- 
nection to  the  system. 

The  transformers  are  usually  three-phase  delta  con- 
nected on  the  high-tension  side  and  six-pltase  diametric- 


44  T  h  e     C  h  i ca  g  o 

ally  connected  on  the  low-tension  .side;  the  parts  being 
all  in  one  case,  with  an  ample  opening  in  the  bottom  for 
air  blast  from  below.  The  six-phase  regulators  are  of 
the  induction  type  remote  controlled  and  provided  w^th 
an  open  base  for  air  blast.  The  rotaries  are  also  installed 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  permit  the  upward  passage  of 
cooling  air.  The  regulators  used  with  the  500-kilowatt 
rotary  installation  are  of  a  capacity  of  44  kilowatts, 
while  those  used  with  the  1,000  rotaries  are  of  88  kilo- 
watt capacity.  Copper  bar  usually  furnishes  a  neat 
and  efficient  means  of  connection  between  transformer 
and  regulator  and  betw'een  regulator  and  rotary. 

All  rotaries  are  ecjuipped  with  speed  limit  devices, 
w'hile  reverse  current  attachments  to  the  direct  current 
ammeters  open  the  circuit  breakers  of  the  rotaries  vipon 
a  reversal  of  current.  Some  of  the  speed  limit  devices 
are  those  of  the  centrifugal  type,  while  others  are  a 
purely  electrical  variety  whicli  operate  upon  increase  of 
frecjuency. 

A  few  details  of  the  standardized  rotary  and  feeder 
panels  serve  to  illustrate  the  general  high  standard  of 
construction.  On  the  rear  of  the  board  the  bus  construc- 
tion is  such  that  the  positive  and  negative  connections 
are  kept  entirely  apart,  the  positive  bus  occupying  the 
upper  and  the  negative  the  lower  half  of  the  board. 
Copper  bars  connect  the  rotary  cables  to  the  buses, 
while  small,  well-ordered  wires  form  a  continuation  of 
the  multiple  control  cables  from  the  terminal  boards  to 
the  instruments  or  controlling  apparatus.  Thus  all 
cables  are  kept  off  the  liack  of  the  lioard,  making  it 
easily  accessible. 

On  the  front  of  the  switchboard  uniformity  in  opera- 
tion of  switches  and  unmistakable  indicating  and  signal 
devices  fvu'nish  all  that  is  necessary  for  reliable  operation. 

Transmission  lines  are  usually  brouglit  into  the  sub- 
stations by  different  routes  from  different  sections  of  the 
generating  station.  The  high-tension  bus  at  the  sub- 
station is  usually  sectionalized  so  that  immunitj^  against 
a  complete  shut-down  is  obtained.     This  is  further  illus- 


E I  c  ct  r  i  ca  I     Ha  n  d  h  o  o  k  45 

trated  by  tlic  stutiy  of  the  iii(li\i(lual  installations, 
wherein  the  large  proportion  of  storage  batteries  add  their 
reserve  strength  to  the  bulwark  against  interruption  of 
service. 

The  installation  of  cranes,  wherever  there  is  revolving 
machinery  and  sufficient  liead  room,  is  a  valuable  feature 
of  these  substations,  wliicli  greatly  facilitates  the  rapid 
installation  or  removal  of  apparatus  in  cases  of  emer- 
gency. 

DOWNTOWN     SUBSTATIONS 

In  the  "downtown,"  or  most  thickly  built  up,  business 
district  of  the  city,  bounded  on  the  north  and  west  by 
the  river,  on  the  east  by  the  lake,  on  the 'south  by  12th 
street,  known  to  the  company  as  District  No.  1,  six  sub- 
stations operate  to  maintain  the  three-wire,  direct- 
current  service,  and  since  the  varying  load  conditions  here 
affect  all  of  these  su])stations  similarly,  they  will  be  con- 
sidered together. 

The  proportion  between  revolving  machinery  and 
battery  installations  is  very  carefully  maintained,  and  a 
study  of  this  district,  regarding  its  load  factor,  its  con- 
nected load,  the  time  of  the  daily  maximum  and  the 
amount  of  the  maximum  load,  with  respect  to  the  sys- 
tem as  a  whole,  could  be  made  the  subject  of  a  most 
interesting  treatise.  One  feature  of  similarity  among 
the  substations,  all  located  on  expensive  real  estate,  is 
the  fact  that  five  of  the  six  are  located  in  basements  of 
office  buildings.  The  one  exception,  the  Market  Street 
Substation,  occupies  the  lower  floors  of  a  l)Viilding 
owned  by  the  Chicago  Edison  Company. 

The  substations  known  as  "Randolph  Street,"  "Dear- 
born Street,"  and  "Jackson  Boulevard,"  the  names  in 
each  case  being  derived  from  the  streets  upon  which 
they  are  located,  are  equipped  with  rotaries  only.  The 
"Adams  Street"  and  "Haddock  Place"  substations  are 
equipped  with  batteries  only,  while  the  new  "Market 
Street"  Substation  combines  both  equipments. 


EDISON    BUILDING 


Electrical     Handbook  47 

Edison    Building 

By  no  means  least  in  importance  among  the  com- 
pany's downtown  properties  is  tlie  liandsome  and  sub- 
stantial Edison  Building,  containing  the  General  Offices 
of  the  company.  The  basement  and  rear  portion  of 
the  first  floor  contain  the  Adams  Street  Substation. 
The  site  of  the  present  building,  139  Adams  street, 
marks  the  location  of  one  of  the  company's  earliest 
endeavors  in  the  field  of  electric  lighting,  although  noth- 
ing of  that  historic  plant  now  remains. 

The  Edison  Building,  of  moderate  height  and  with 
large,  towering  office  buildings  on  either  side,  presents 
the  strong  yet  refined  forms  of  the  French  Renaissance, 
and  has  a  facade  of  strong  individuality,  commanding 
attention  by  its  richness  and  beauty  of  detail,  rather  than 
by  its  bulk.  This  facade  is  of  Milford  pink  granite,  the 
surface  for  the  first  two  stories  being  highly  polished, 
while  the  upper  portion  to  the  top  of  the  parapet  wall  is 
ten-cut  work.  Above  this  is  a  cresting  and  a  large  cen- 
tral motive  of  terra  cotta,  and,  crowning  all,  a  Mansard 
roof  of  red  tile. 

The  walls  and  ceilhig  of  the  entrance  hall  are  of 
English  vein  Italian  marble,  and  the  floors  of  marble 
mosaic.  The  stairs  to  the  second  story  are  of  marble, 
with  a  heavy  wrought-iron  balustrade. 

The  executive  offices  of  the  company  are  located  in 
the  front  portion  of  the  building,  on  the  fourth  and  fifth 
floors.  The  Directors'  Room,  on  the  fifth  floor,  is  in 
Italian  Renaissance  style,  with  panels  of  mahogany 
wainscoting  twelve  feet  high  and  coved  ornamental 
stucco  ceiling.  A  feature  of  the  company's  general 
office  building  is  the  Employes'  Library  and  Meeting 
Room,  which  is  wainscoted  five  feet  high  in  dark  English 
Oak,  with  green  walls  above,  and  has  a  floor  of  quartered 
oak.  The  entire  building  is  occupied  by  the  offices  of  the 
various  departments  of  the  company,  among  which 
might  be  mentioned  the  Contracting,  Inspection  and 
Construction  Departments  on  the  second  floor,  the 
Accounting  Department  on   the  fourth   floor,   the  Pur- 


48 


T h e    C h i c ago 


Electrical     Ha  n  d  h  o  o  k 


49 


chasing  and  Supply  Departments  on  the  fiftli  floor,  the 
Operating  and  Engineering  Departments  on  the  sixth 
floor,  and  various  other  departments  located  tlirovighout 
the  building,  with  particular  reference  to  their  co-opera- 
tion with  the  foregoing  and  their  work  and  relations  with 
the  public. 

Adams  Street  Substation 

The  "Adams  Street"  Substation,  located  at  the  heart 
of  the  business  district,  ranks  first  b}'  reason  of  its 
seniority  and  tlie  amount  of  output  that  it  distributes. 


DISTRIBUTION  ROOM,   ADAMS  STREET 


It  was  originally  intended  as  a  distributing  center  for 
the  direct-current  generators  at  Harrison  street,  which 
office  it  has  maintained  through  the  epoch  of  modernizing 
which  the  system  has  undergone.  Current  is  supplied 
to  the  bus  bars  of  the  distributing  switchboard  by  a 
trunk  line  from  the  Harrison  Street  Station,  of  a  circular 
millage  amounting  to  63,000,000  c.  m.  and  a  length  of 
3,400  feet,  and  is  distriliuted  by  means  of  feeders,  -47  in 
nvmiber,  and  of  sizes  varying  from  350,000  to  1,000,000 


50  The     C  h  i  ca  g  o 

c.  m.      Page  49  shows   the   arrangement  of  tlie   switch 
boards  in  this  substation. 

Three  batteries,  averaging  154  cells  per  battery, 
with  a  vuiited  capacity  of  27,000  amperes  at  1^-hour  dis- 
charge rate,  or  8,400  amperes  at  the  8-hour  rate,  have 
been  installed  in  this  substation,  making  a  batter}^  instal- 
lation of  unusually  large  size.  A  three-unit  booster 
set  with  a  300-liorse-power  motor,  driving  two  100- 
kilowatt  generators  for  charging  tlie  batteries,  completes 
the  equipment. 


-'fjtf' 


INTERIOR    OF    RANDOLPH    STREET   SUBSTATION 

Randolph  Street  Suhstation 

A  3,000-kilowatt  substation  in  the  basement  of  one  of 
the  city's  largest  office  buildings,  with  headroom  pre- 
venting the  mstallation  of  any  units  larger  than  500- 
kilo watts  and  with  a  single  consumer,  just  across  the 
street,  having  a  connected  load  of  40,000  lamps  and 
3,000  horse-power  in  motors — such  are  the  unusual  con- 
ditions defining  the  Randolph  Street  Substation.  An 
interior  view  of  this  substation  is  shown  above. 

Installed   about   three   years   ago,   and   containing   at 


Electrical     Handbook  51 

pres^piit  five  50()-kilowatt  rotary  converters,  with  a  100- 
kilowatt,  125-volt  balancing  set  arranged  to  be  thrown 
to  either  side  of  the  tliree-wire  system,  this  substation 
operates  to  maintain  the  service  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  the  downtown  district.  Tlie  j^lans  admit  of  an  increase 
to  an  ultimate  capacity  of  6,000  kilowatts  in  rotary  con- 
verter units. 

Dearborn  Street  S^ihstation 

While  really  a  modern  plant  in  every  detail  of  equip- 
ment, this  is  the  oldest  of  the  company's  downtown 
rotary  substations.  Like  the  Randolph  Street  Substa- 
tion, it  is  installed  in  a  basement,  and  it  required  a  great 
deal  of  ingenuity  to  get  all  the  desired  apparatus  in 
place.  At  present  five  500-kilowatt  rotary  converters 
supply  the  central  portion  of  District  1,  this  station  being 
very  centrally  located.  This  substation  was  installed 
about  four  years  ago,  and  has  reached  its  limit  in  ca- 
pacity. 

Market  Street  Street  Substation 

One  of  the  most  important,  the  n.ost  recently  installed, 
and  the  finest  in  point  of  structural  ensemble  is  the 
Market  Street  Substation.  This  plant  is  located  in  the 
basement  and  on  tlie  first  and  second  floors  of  a  fine 
eight-story  steel  Iniilding,  which,  with  an  imposing  plate 
glass  and  stone  front,  makes  the  I)uilding  by  far  the 
handsomest  structure  in  the  vicinity.  An  exterior  view 
of  this  building  is  shown  on  page  52. 

Four  1,000-kilowatt  rotaries  and  a  l,2n0-kilowatt 
battery  (one-hour  rate  of  discharge)  furnish  current  to 
the  northwest  part  of  the  downtown  district.  Part  of  the 
output  is  also  passed  under  the  river,  by  tunnel,  to  the 
West  Side. 

The  high-tension  switching  installation  is  located  in 
an  air  chamber  in  the  roomy  basement,  which  is  also 
reserved  for  blowers,  and  cable  connection  to  the  old, 
previously  described  Wasliington  Street  Station. 

On  a  gallery  above  the  main  floor  and  directly  over 


52 


T  h  c    Chicago 


MARKET  STREET  SUBSTATION   BriLDING 


Electrical     Ha  n  db  oo  k  53 

the  rotary  and  feeder  panel,  a  switchboard  for  the  opera- 
tion of  the  4,5()0-kilowatt  auxihary  steam  phxnt  in  the 
adjoining  building  has  been  installed. 

Provision  has  been  made  for  increasing  the  capacity 
and  present  arrangement  to  four  1,000-kilowatt  converter 
vmits,  two  of  which  will  have  additional  transformer  and 
regulator  capacity  to  give  a  range  of  240-360  volts  at 
the  commutator,  permitting  their  use  for  the  charging  of 
batteries  without  the  intervention  of  boosters. 
Jackson  Boulevard  Substation 

This  station  occupies  space  in  the  basement  of  the 
magnificent  new  Railway  Exchange  Building  on  Jackson 
Boulevard,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  downtown 
district.  Here  we  have  headroom  permitting  installation 
of  1,000-kilowatt  units,  two  of  which  are  now  being 
installed.  The  ultimate  arrangement  contemplates  six 
1,000-kilowatt  rotary  converters  with  all  accessories. 

Two  500-kilowatt  units  have  been  in  service  for  about 
nine  months  in  a  temporary  location  during  the  construc- 
tion of  the  building.  The  load  conditions  in  the  vicinity 
indicate  that  a  rapid  increase  in  the  capacity  of  the 
substation  will  be  necessary.  The  larger  and  more  im- 
proved type  of  converter  units  with  three-phase  trans- 
formers lend  themselves  readily  to  the  excellent  arrange- 
ment of  apparatus.  A  noteworthy  feature  of  this 
installation  is  the  provision  for  an  air  supply  consisting  of 
a  large  duct  running  under  the  floor  of  the  basement  and 
having  its  intake,  whicii  is  provided  with  a  filter,  opening 
at  the  sidewalk. 

Haddock  Place  Substation 

This  substation  is  installed  in  the  e.xtreme  north- 
easterly section  of  the  downtown  district,  near  com- 
mission houses  and  a  large  number  of  elevator  power 
consumers.  It  is  connected  by  a  heavy  tie  line  to  the 
bus  bars  of  the  Randolph  Street  Substation,  about  800 
feet  distant. 

Two  1,000-kilow^att  batteries  (one-hour  rate  of  dis- 
charge) and  a  100-kilowatt,  three-unit  booster  set  com- 


54  T  h  e     C  h  i  c  a  g  o 

prise  the  electrical  equipment  of  this  substation.  The 
first  of  these  two  storage  batteries  is  notable  in  that  it 
was  installed  in  record-breaking  time,  the  entire  installa- 
tion of  battery,  booster,  switchboards  and  all  under- 
ground connections  in  street  ready  for  one-hour  rate  of 
discharge,  covering  a  period  of  only  57  days,  from  the 
date  on  which  expenditure  was  authorized  and  apparatus 
and  material  ordered. 

The  battery  proper  was  installed  by  the  Electric  Stor- 
age Battery  Company  of  Philadelphia,  and  all  other  work 
by  the  company's  own  organization. 

SOUTH    SIDE    SUBSTATIONS 

The  old  South  Side  of  Chicago,  known  to  the  company 
as  District  No.  2,  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  r2th  street, 
on  the  east  by  Lake  Michigan,  on  the  south  by  39th  street 
and  on  the  west  by  Armour  avenue.  Three  substations 
supply  this  district  with  current  for  business  and  resi- 
dence purposes.  Their  locations  are  such  as  to  form  the 
electrical  vertebrae  of  this  rather  attenuated  branch  of 
the  .system.  The  maximum  load  in  this  district  occurs 
somewhat  later  in  the  evening  than  that  of  District  1 
and  is,  therefore,  no  additional  strain  on  the  machinery 
at  the  generating  stations,  upon  which  these  substations 
are  dependent,  at  the  time  of  "Peak." 

State   Street   Substation 

Located  just  south  of  the  northern  boundary  of  Dis- 
trict No.  2  on  State  street,  near  12th  street,  is  the  State 
Street  Substation.  Need  for  a  substation  in  this  locality 
was  felt  long  before  a  location  could  be  secured,  for  selec- 
tion of  a  .site  was  confined  to  a  small  radius.  The  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  the  substation  is  developing  rapidly 
with  a  class  of  commercial  buildings  requiring  a  consid- 
erable amount  of  general  power  as  well  as  elevator  power 
and  lighting. 

This  substation  is  notable  in  that  it  was  erected  on  a 
20-foot  lot,  which  is  rather  narrow  for  substation  pur- 
poses.    However,  the  substation  is  a  complete  one,  con- 


E I ecf  r  i cal     H cnidboo Ic  55 

taining  two  500-kilo\vatt  rotary  converters,  one  276- 
kilowatt  battery  (one-hour  rate  of  discharge),  with  a  30- 
kilowatt,  3-unit  booster  set,  capable  of  use  as  a  balancing 
set.  The  high-tension  apparatus  is  located  on  a  gallery 
in  the  front  over  the  rotary  room,  the  battery  being 
located  in  the  basement.  Living  rooms  for  the  operator 
are  provided  above  the  rotary  room. 

The  building,  though  rather  small,  is  made  conspicuous 
by  the  striking  contrast  which  its  neat  pressed  brick  front 
presents  to  the  somewhat  sordid  surroundings.  It  is 
entirely  of  brick  and  steel  construction,  and  is  altogether 
a  very  attractive  and  interesting  little  substation. 

Twenty-Fust  Street  Substation 

Located  about  midway  between  the  State  Street 
Substation  and  the  Twenty-seventh  Street  Substation  is 
the  Twenty-first  Street  Substation.  This  plant  is  in- 
stalled on  the  site  of  an  old  generating  plant,  one  part  of 
the  building  being  used  as  a  storeroom,  another  as  a 
substation.  The  load  in  this  district  is  mixed  business 
and  residence  lighting  in  its  character. 

The  substation  contains  two  500-kilowatt  and  one 
250-kilowatt  rotary  converter,  and  is  capable  of  exten- 
sion consideral^ly  beyond  this  capacity,  as  a  large  amount 
of  additional  floor  space  is  yet  available  in  the  old  plant. 

Twenty-Seventh  Street  Substation 

Six  years  ago  this  plant  was  a  generating  center  of  the 
southern  district  of  the  Chicago  Edison  Company.  It 
is  located  on  Wabash  avenue  and  27th  street,  and  about 
2 J  miles  distant  from  Harrison  Street  Station.  Being 
in  a  residence  district  and  without  railway  or  river 
facilities,  all  coal  has  to  be  hauled  by  wagons.  The 
engines  are  run  non-condensing.  The  building  is  of 
brick  and  contains,  at  the  front,  living  rooms  for  the 
engineer  and  a  lamp  exchange  room  for  the  district. 

In  1898  rotary  converters  began  to  creep  in  and  fires 
began  to  be  banked.     The  little  central  station  became  a 


56  2'  h  e     C  h  i c  a  go 

dependency  upon  the  Harrison  Street  Station.  There 
remains,  however,  a  generating  plant  of  about  920- 
kilowatts  capacity.  Four  Heine  boilers,  with  a  total  of 
1,700  horse-power,  furnish  steam  for  one  135-horse-power 
tandem  compound  and  two  250-horse-power  tandem 
compound  Mcintosh  and  Seymour  engines,  and  one 
vertical,  cross-compound,  600-horse-power  Ball  &  Wood 
engine.  Belted  to  the  first  three  mentioned  are  six  100- 
kilowatt  Edison  bi-polar  shunt  machines  and  to  the  last 
mentioned  two  200-kilowatt  General  Electric  multi- 
polar, direct-current,  140-volt  generators.  One  gener- 
ator in  each  of  these  sets  of  two  is  connected  on  the  posi- 
tive and  the  other  on  the  negative  side  of  the  three-wire 
system.  This  station,  which  has  been  in  operation  for 
12  years,  still  does  regular  duty  as  a  subsidiary  steam 
plant. 

In  the  same  building  with  the  generating  plant,  and 
in  reality  in  the  engine  room  of  the  station,  there  are  two 
200-kilowatt  and  one  250-kilowatt  rotary,  also  a  30- 
kilowatt,  3-unit  booster  set.  At  the  nortli  side  of  the 
station  a  275-kilowatt  battery  occupies  a  separate  room. 

The  rotaries  are  all  of  the  older  type,  as  this  was  the 
first  rotary  converter  installation  of  the  Chicago  Edison 
Company,  they  being  started  in  ser^•ice  when  the  trans- 
mission line  pressure  was  but  2,250  and  later  4,500  volts. 
Some  of  these  machines  have  been  installed  for  six  years, 
having  been  in  continuous  service  during  that  time.  In 
this  substation  were  installed  the  first  rotary  converters 
ordered  for  lighting  service  in  America. 

NORTH    SIDE    SUBSTATIONS 

In  the  northern  district  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  a  terri- 
tory of  about  two  and  one-half  square  miles,  bounded  on 
the  north  by  North  avenue,  on  the  east  by  Lake  Mich- 
igan, on  the  south  and  west  l)y  the  Chicago  river,  are 
four  substations.  The  load  in  the  eastern  portion  of 
this  district  is  principally  a  lighting  load,  but  in  the 
western  and  particularly  southwestern  portion  a  heavy 


El  ccfr  i  c  (I  I     n  a  n  d  h  o  o  k  57 

motor  load  is  Ix'iiifi  developed.  Siibinarine  cables  afford 
a  tie  between  the  direct  eurreiit  network  of  this  distrit-t 
and  that  of  District  No.  1,  just  south  of  the  river. 

North  Clark  Street  Substation 

On  the  north  side  of  the  city  the  Edison  Company  has 
one  sul)sidiary  steam  plant,  formerly  known  as  the 
"Newberry  Lil)rary  Plant,"  a  name  derived  from  its 
proximity  to  the  above-named  building.  The  prox- 
imity in  location  is,  in  fact,  almost  identity,  for  the  sta- 
tion appears  to  be  a  part  of  the  same  structure.  This 
plant  is  rather  small,  but  deceptive  in  appearance,  for  it 
is  quite  well  filled  with  apparatus,  there  being  both  gen- 
erators and  rotary  converters  installed. 

In  its  history  and  present  capacity  it  is  very  much 
like  the  Twenty-seventh  Street  Station,  previously 
described.  Twehe  hundred  and  seventy-five  horse- 
power in  Heine  boilers  supply  four  vertical,  cross-com- 
pound Lake  Erie  engines,  one  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
horse-power  and  three  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
horse-power  each.  To  these  engines  are  coupled  two 
50-kilowatt,  135-volt,  direct-current  generators  and  six 
75-kilowatt,  135-volt,  direct-current  generators.  These 
generators  are  balanced  on  the  two  sides  of  the  three- 
wire  system  and  are  employed  in  their  present  capa- 
city as  "Peak"  machinery. 

This  is  one  of  the  few  substations  where  there  are  to 
be  found  remnants  of  the  original  rotary  converter  in- 
stallation, the  company's  first  venture  in  converting 
apparatus  and  high-tension  transmission.  Two  100- 
kilowatt,  125-volt  rotaries,  one  operating  on  each  side  of 
the  three-wire  system,  also  operating  in  parallel  with  the 
250-volt,  500-kilowatt  rotary,  complete  the  substation 
equipment. 

Sedgwick  Street  Substation 

On  Sedgwick  street,  near  North  avenue,  the  northern 
Ijoundary  of  the  Edison  Territory,  there  was  erected 
about  two  years  ago  one  of  the  company's  typical  mod- 


58  The     C  hica  g o 

ern  substations — two  buildings  of  fireproof  construction, 
oile  in  the  rear  of  the  lot,  being  a  separate  battery  struc- 
ture, while  facing  the  street  is  the  rotary  converter 
building.  This  substation  contains  two  500-kilowatt 
rotaries  at  present,  and  a  425-kilowatt  battery.  A  30- 
kilowatt,  3-unit  booster  set  furnishes  a  means  of  charging 
the  battery  from  the  system. 

In  this  station  we  find  a  high-tension  gallery  with  the 
rotaries  on  the  main  floor.  This  type  of  substation  is 
installed  quite  extensively  by  the  company  where  build- 
ing lots  are  of  inconsiderable  width.  The  installation 
of  the  battery  in  a  separate  building  leaves  the  basement 
of  the  rotary  converter  building  free  for  the  installation 
of  air  ducts  and  cable  runs. 

Kinzie  Street  Substation 

The  Northwestern  Railway  Company  requires  a  large 
and  unfailing  source  of  electrical  energy  for  operating 
air  compressors  which  furnish  compressed  air  for  its 
signal  system,  as  well  as  for  lighting  its  passenger  depot 
and  terminal  equipment  and  yards.  For  this  purpose 
the  Chicago  Edison  Company  has  installed  in  one  of  the 
Railway  Company's  buildings  on  Kinzie  street  one  250- 
kilowatt  and  two  100-kilowatt  rotaries  of  the  older  type. 
In  addition  to  furnishing  direct  current  for  the  air  com- 
pressor motors  and  railway  company's  lighting,  three 
feeders  from  this  substation  supply  the  Edison  System 
in  the  vicinity. 

Ohio  Street  Substation 

This  substation  represents  all  that  is  modern  in  the 
development  of  sul)station  construction.  The  building 
is  of  brick  and  steel,  equipped  with  a  crane,  and  the 
basement  free  for  vise  as  an  air  chamber  and  for  cable 
runs.  The  second  floor  is  occupied  by  a  600-kilowatt 
battery,  while  the  main  floor  is  planned  for  five  1,000- 
kilowatt  rotaries,  to  be  installed  as  the  district  develops. 
The  present  equipment  consists  of  a  500-kilowatt 
rotarv  converter  and  a  30-kilowatt,  3-unit  booster  set. 


Electrical     Handbook  59 

This  substation  also  represents  another  piiase  in  the 
development  of  the  company's  property',  in  tliat  real 
estate  of  continually  enhancing  value  is  secured  while 
still  within  reasonable  cost,  and  a  commercial  building 
of  such  nature  is  erected  on  rear  of  lot  as  will  fulfill  pres- 
ent requirements,  permit  extension  to  front,  and  such 
additional  stories,  up  to  eight  in  height,  as  future  rental 
requirements  may  make  advisable. 

Illinois  Street  Substation 

This  little  substation  was  installed  in  this  particular 
part  of  the  district  only  after  it  was  found  that  it  was 
impracticable  to  maintain  pressure  here  by  feeders  from 
existing  stations. 

The  building,  a  small  brick  structure  on  an  alley,  is 
located  on  a  strip  of  land  which  permits  of  enlargement 
and  more  permanent  structure  should  the  necessity  arise. 
The  present  equipment  is  two  100-kilowatt,  125-volt 
rotaries,  operating  on  either  side  of  the  three-wire  system, 
and  one  500-kilowatt,  250-volt  rotary  installation. 

WEST    SIDE    SUBST.\TIONS 

The  West  Side,  known  officially  as  District  No.  3,  is 
the  newest  territory  invaded  by  the  Chicago  Edison 
Company.  Five  years  ago  there  was  practically  no 
business  in  this  section  of  the  city  and  to-day  five  substa- 
tions are  kept  busy  supplying  the  electrical  needs  of  the 
district.  This  district,  bomided  on  the  north  by  North 
avenue,  on  the  east  by  the  Chicago  river,  on  the  south 
by  39th  Street  and  on  the  west  by  Ashland  avenue, 
covers  an  area  of  about  four  square  miles,  the  Chicago 
river  separating  it  from  Districts  1,  2,  and  4. 

Harrison  Street  Substation,  which  has  already  been 
referred  to  in  the  description  of  the  generating  station  of 
the  same  name,  due  to  its  location  on  the  north  side  of 
the  plant,  consists  simply  of  two  large  batteries,  each 
of  1 ,000-kilowatt  capacity,  at  the  one-hour  rate.  Its 
only  piece  of  rotating  macliinery,  a  100-kilowatt 
booster,  enaliles  its  batteries  to  l)e  cliarged. 


60  T  he     C  h  i  cago 

The  rather  distant  location  of  tliis  battery  from  the 
load  centers  of  either  District  1  or  District  3  renders  it 
serviceable  for  either  district,  and  therefore  it  seemingly 
partakes  more  of  tlie  nature  of  a  station  reserve  than  a 
district  battery. 

Similarly  the  Market  Street  Substation,  although 
located  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  and  therefore  in  the 
downtown  district,  also  supplies  current  to  the  three- 
wire  system  on  the  West  Side. 

Lydia  Street  Substation 

Al)Out  two  years  ago  one  rotary  converter  was  hastily 
installed  on  the  rear  of  a  lot  facing  Lake  street  and  ex- 
tending through  to  Lydia  street,  near  L'nion  street.  The 
load  increased  at  such  a  rate  that  work  on  a  large  substa- 
tion was  soon  begun.  The  present  Lydia  Street  Sub- 
station, the  result,  is  in  some  respects  like  the  Market 
Street  Substation,  being  located  on  expensive  real  estate. 
The  foundation  provides  for  a  future  seven-story  build- 
ing of  brick  and  steel,  with  cut  stone  and  plate  glass  front, 
only  two  floors  of  which  have  so  far  been  built.  The 
future  upper  floors,  when  erected,  may  be  rented  to 
outside  tenants,  since  the  basement  and  first  floors  only 
are  occupied  by  the  substation. 

In  the  basement  there  is  a  storage  battery  witli  a 
capacity  of  1,000  kilowatts,  on  the  first  floor  are  two 
1,000-kilowatt  rotaries  and  above  on  a  gallery  is  the 
high-tension  eciuipnient  of  line  switches  and  buses,  from 
which  leads  are  taken  directly  to  the  converter  transform- 
ers on  the  first  floor. 

A  100-kilowatt,  3-unit  booster  set,  capable  of  use  as  a 
balancing  set,  on  the  three-wire  system,  completes  the 
electrical  equipment  of  this  substation,  which  has  come 
to  be  recognized  as  a  most  important  one  and  bears  much 
the  same  relation  to  District  3  as  the  Randolph  Street 
Substation  does  to  District  1. 

West  Division  Street  Substation 
This  substation,  an  exterior  view  of  wliich  is  shown  on 
page  61,  is  located  on  West  Division  street  near  Ashland 


E  led  r  I  c  a  I     II  a  n  d  h  o  o  k 


(51 


avenue  and  is  within  onc-iialf  mile  of  tlie  nortlivvestern 
operating  limit  of  tiie  Edison  Company;  it  hears  the 
distinction  of  being  the  only  coml)ination  station  of  the 
company,  that  is,  a  sul)station  distrilmting  both  direct 
current  and  60-cyclc  alternating  current.  The  building 
is  of  l)rick  and  steel,  witli  a  basement  battery  and  a  high- 


WEST    DIVISION    STREpyr   SUBSTATION 


tension  gallery  above  the  rotary  converter  room.  Living 
rooms  for  the  operator  are  provided  on  the  upper  floor 
of  the  substation,  and  the  front  of  the  lower  floor  is  used 
partly  as  a  district  supply  office.  This  structvire  is  of 
rather  greater  width  than  the  average  substation,  being 
50  feet  wide  and  making  a  double  equipment  possible. 
Two   500-kilowatt   motor  generator   sets,  supplied  with 


62  The     Chicago 

25-cycle  current,  deliver  60-cycle  alternating  current  to 
portions  of  the  northern  and  of  the  western  districts  of 
the  Commonwealth  Electric  Company.  Two  rotary  con- 
verters, a  425-kilowatt  battery  and  a  30-kilowatt,  3-unit 
booster  set  are  at  present  also  in  operation  here.  Both 
rotary  and  motor  generators  are  fed  from  common  trans- 
mission lines. 

West  Fourteenth  Street  Substation 

This  suljstation  was  installed  in  a  new  brick  and  steel 
structure  on  14th  street  near  John  street  about  three 
years  ago.  It  supplies  the  southern  part  of  District  3. 
The  building  faces  the  street  and  is  of  sufficient  size  to 
accommodate  three  500-kilowatt  rotary  converter  sets. 
Future  extension  to  a  capacity  twice  this  amount  is 
possible. 

At  present  this  station  contains  one  500-kilowatt  rotary 
converter,  one  2.50-kilowatt  rotary  and  one  275-kilowatt 
battery  with  two  15-kiIowatt  Ijooster  sets,  an  equipment 
ample  for  the  present  needs  of  this  district. 

LOW    TENSION    DISTRIBUTION    SYSTEM 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  low-tension  distriliution 
system  of  a  large  Central  Station  Company,  especially 
where  conditions  obtain  which  necessitate  its  position 
under  ground,  represents  a  large  investment  and  that 
on  its  proper  installation  and  operation  the  success  of 
the  company  depends,  a  general  description  will  be  given 
here.  Inasmuch  as  the  part  consisting  of  rotaries, 
storage  batteries  and  their  necessary  accessories,  switch- 
boards, bus  bars,  etc.,  have  already  been  described  under 
the  substation  headings,  the  underground  portion  onh' 
will  receive  our  attention. 

Formerly  the  "Edison  Tube,"  an  iron  pipe  containing 
three  conductors,  was  laid  directly  in  the  ground  for  use 
as  feeders  from  station  bus  bars  to  the  junction  boxes 
in  street  and  also  for  mains  Ijetween  these  junction 
boxes.  The  junction  boxes  were  circular,  cast-iron 
shells,  with  three  copper  rings,  positive,  negative  and 
neutral,  on  the  interior,  to  wliich  tlie  copper  of  the  tubes 


Electrical     Handbook 


63 


connected.  But  that  sj^steni  has  been  very  largely 
superseded.  Instead  we  have  a  conduit  and  cable  sys- 
tem, with  roomy  manholes  at  the  street  corners  and 
junction  boxes  installed  within  the  manholes.  Glazed 
tile  conduit  lines,  consisting  of  ducts  from  4  to  24  in 
number,  enclose  the  cables  from  manhole  to  manhole  or 
to  substations,  as  the  case  may  be.  Between  the  man- 
holes,   where   services   enter   the    customers'    buildings, 


REPRESENTATIVE  CONDUITS  AND  MANHOLE,  SHOWI.N'O  I.SOLATION 
OF   CABLES 


handholes  are  provided  for  a  lateral  connection  of  tile 
or  iron  pipe. 

Most  of  the  cable  in  this  system  at  present  is  single 
conductor  paper  and  lead  covered,  varying  in  size  from 
250,000  c.  m.  to  2,000,000  c.  m.  A  large  amount  of 
1,000,000  c.  m.  concentric  cable  for  feeders  is  now  being 
installed  on  account  of  the  better  economy  in  duct  space. 
Cables  are  carefully  trained  through  manholes  to  avoid 
crossing,  and  great  care  is  taken  in  providing  against 
commimication   of  trouble  from  one  cable   to   another. 


64 


T  h  c     Chicago 


The  cables  are  usually  laid  in  ducts  on  the  side  walls  of 
the  manholes  and  covered  with  split  tile.  In  cases  where 
the  use  of  this  protection  is  impossible  an  asbestos  cover- 
ing, held  in  place  with  steel  tape,  is  provided.  Page  63 
shows  the  usual  manhole  and  conduit  construction. 

The  manholes  are  usually  constructed  of  brick  and 
concrete,  and  vary  in  size  from  the  so-called  "handhole," 
about  2x3x3  feet,  to    the   large    manholes  at    street 


TU.NXEL   roNSTRUCTlON    .VXD    CABI.E    PROTECTIOX 


intersections,  a  common  size  being  6x8x6  feet.  Ven- 
tilated iron  covers  are  put  on  the  concrete  tops,  and  sewer 
drains  are  provided  in  the  l)ottom.  These  manholes 
assume  somewhat  irregular  shapes  in  some  cases,  for  it  is 
often  found  that  on  account  of  obstructions  in  the  street 
the  company  has  to  utilize  whatever  space  is  left  under 
ground. 

At  the  river  crossings  provided  recently,  of  which  there 


Electrical     Handbook  65 

are  quite  a  number,  the  company  has  installed  tunnels. 
These  tunnels,  usually  of  elliptical  cross  section,  having 
a  bore  of  about  five  feet,  with  the  major  axis  liorizontal, 
are  constructed  of  concrete  and  sunk  to  a  depth  wliich 
eliminates  possibilities  of  entrance  of  foreign  bodies, 
such  as  piles,  etc.  Page  64  shows  tunnel  construction. 
One  of  the  oldest  tunnels  carries  the  "Trvmk  Line" 
from  Harrison  Street  Station  to  Adams  Street  Substation, 
and  it  has  done  duty  for  twelve  years,  despite  the  damage 
done  by  an  occasional  pile  driven  through  its  roof.  This 
tunnel  is  about  65  feet  below  grade,  while  later  tunnels 
are  svmk  to  a  depth  of  85  feet  and  through  the  l)ed  rock 
under  the  river. 

The  substations  and  feeders  are  well  disposed  through- 
out the  network  and  the  objective  "constant  potential" 
is  rigidly  maintained.  Pressure  wires  run  back  from 
certain  junction  boxes  to  the  operator  in  a  particular 
substation,  indicating  to  him  any  departure  from  the 
"standard  pressure"  that  he  is  required  to  preserve. 
The  potential  of  117  volts  on  each  side  of  the  three-wire 
system  is  maintained  at  the  feeder  end  junction  boxes, 
thus  producing  a  pressure  of  113  volts  at  the  lamps. 
The  earlier  mains  l)etween  junction  boxes  were  of  vary- 
ing sizes,  depending  upon  the  density  of  the  load  con- 
nected. In  the  more  recent  installations  these  mains 
have  been  limited  to  a  few  standard  sizes,  the  three  con- 
ductors in  any  one  main  being  always  the  same  cross 
section.  Cables  of  200,000  c.  m.  and  350,000  c.  m.  for 
this  purpose  predominate  very  largely. 

In  the  earlier  developments  of  the  company,  with  com- 
paratively few  feeders  supplying  a  large  area,  the  size  of 
the  mains  was  largely  fixed  by  the  drop  in  potential 
between  junction  box  and  customers'  ser^•ice.  The  very 
great  increase  in  density  of  load  over  given  areas  and  the 
resultant  necessary  increase  in  number  of  feeders  lias 
changed  this  consideration  so  that  the  sizes  of  mains  are 
now  very  often  fixed  by  the  carrying  capacity  required. 
This  makes  it  possible  to  have  a  much  higher  average 
current  density  in  all  mains.     Tlie  usual  development, 


66  The     Chicago 

therefore,  is  simply  to  connect  up  additional  feeders  to 
the  existing  network  of  mains. 

Similarly,  when  the  density  of  load  in  any  particular 
locality  increases  beyond  the  point  where  it  is  no  longer 
economical  to  carry  it  by  means  of  feeders  from  existing 
stations  or  substations,  a  new  substation  is  installed  and 
the  existing  S3'^stem  of  feeders  connected  thereto.  In 
this  manner  a  feeder  from  an  existing  station  is  often 
rearranged  to  perform  the  functions  of  three  feeders: 
namely,  a  shortened  feeder  from  the  existing  station  and 
two  feeders  running  in  opposite  directions  from  the  new 
sul)station  establislied.  Such  a  feeder  is  sometimes  also 
utilized  as  a  tie  line  between  the  old  and  the  new  sub- 
stations. In  brief,  therefore,  the  carrying  capacity  of 
the  network  of  mains  is  reinforced  by  the  installation  of 
additional  feeders,  and  the  carrying  capacity  of  copper  in 
feeders  is  reinforced  by  the  installation  of  additional  sub- 
stations. An  idea  of  the  immensity  of  this  system  may 
be  conveyed  by  the  fact  that  there  are  124  miles  of  low- 
tension  mains  and  69  miles  of  feeders  supplyhig  the 
Edison  customers. 

Incandescent  lamps,  having  an  efficiency  of  3.1  watts 
per  candle  power,  are  used  for  all  except  the  lamps  of 
10  candle-power  or  less.  The  losses  at  113  volts 
in  incandescent  lamps,  arc  lamps  and  meters  are  con- 
siderably less  than  those  on  systems  using  250-volt 
incandescent  lamps. 

The  stability  of  this  system  has  been  put  to  severe  tests 
in  some  instances,  but  the  storage  batteries  and  the  inter- 
connected network  have  for  several  years  operated  very 
effectively  against  a  total  incapacitating  of  the  system, 
a  condition  so  dreaded  by  all  central  station  companies. 


Conniioinvealth  Electric   Company 

The  Coninionwealth  Electric  Company  has  three 
sources  of  electrical  energy:  the  Fisk  Street  Station,  pre- 
eminent with  a  capacity  of  18,000  kilowatts;  the  56th 
Street  Station,  a  3,0C0-kilowatt,  60-cycle  generating 
plant,  built  four  years  ago,  and  a  subsidiary  steam  plant, 
the  Lake  View  Station.  Besides  supplying  its  own  six 
substations,  it  furnishes  current  to  the  Chicago  Edison 
Company  and  also  to  the  Chicago  &  Oak  Park  Elevated 
Railway.  The  transmission  is  effected  in  a  9,000-volt, 
3-phase,  25-cycle  sj^stem,  while  the  distribution  is  a 
3-phase,  4-wire,  2300/4000-volt,  60-cycle,  overhead  sys- 
tem, which  serves  the  more  recently  developed  residential 
districts  and  suburbs  of  Chicago.  In  three  of  its  substa- 
tions there  are  installed  frequency  changing  sets  of 
4,500-kilowatt  capacity,  while  the  remainder  are  static 
transformer  installations. 

While  its  own  patronage  of  11,000  customers,  with  a 
connected  load  of  728,000  incandescent  lamps  and  9,220 
horse-power  in  motors,  calls  for  about  6,500  kilowatts  of 
generating  capacity,  the  Chicago  Edison  Company 
demands  the  remainder  for  the  supply  of  its  numerous 
substations.  The  twofold  aspect  of  the  company  is 
thus  apparent — as  generating  a  supply  for  the  substa- 
tions of  the  Chicago  Edison  Company;  as  a  generating 
and  distributing  agent  supplying  its  own  independent 
territory. 

FISK    STREET    STATION 

This  station  is  located  at  the  juncture  of  Fisk  street 
and  the  South  branch  of  the  Chicago  river,  about  three 
miles  from  the  center  of  the  downtown  business  district 
of  Chicago.  It  stands  nearly  in  the  center  of  a  plat  of 
land  of  an  area  of  fourteen  acres,  with  a  mean  width  of 
67 


08 


T  h  c    C  h  i ca  (J o 


FISK  STREET  POWER  HC)USE 
COMMONWEALTH  ELECTRIC  COMPANY 


Electrical    H  a  ndb  oo  k  G9 

about  six  hundred  feet,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the 
river.  On  either  side  of  this  phit  of  land  a  slip  extend- 
ing north  from  the  river  about  thirteen  hundred  feet 
provides  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  circulating  water 
for  the  huge  condensers.  The  river  furnishes  an  excel- 
lent coal  conveying  medium,  and  at  the  north  end  of  the 
property  a  spur  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road facilitates  bringing  coal  directly  from  the  mines. 

The  Fisk  Street  Station  buildings,  as  at  present 
constructed,  consist  of  the  boiler  house,  190  x  165  feet, 
the  turbine  house,  225  x  65  feet,  both  of  steel,  and 
the  separate  switch  house,  140  x  50  feet.  These  build- 
ings are  designed  for  future  extension  to  three  and  one- 
half  times  the  present  capacity.  Of  the  French  style 
of  architecture,  with  red  pressed  brick  walls  and  cut 
stone  trimmings,  they  form  a  delightful  contrast  to 
the  ordinary  river  front  property. 

The  unit  idea  pervading  this  whole  plant  makes  itself 
evident  at  first  sight.  Every  unit  from  the  coal  con- 
veyor to  the  last  group  of  outgoing  line  switches  is  com- 
plete in  itself,  and  the  value  of  this  idea  in  the  localizing 
and  confining  of  trouble  will  be  at  once  apparent  to  the 
operator  of  large  central  stations.  Page  68  shows  a 
plan  of  the  station. 

There  are  now  installed  three  complete  units,  con- 
sisting of  coal  conveyors,  boilers,  Curtis  turbo-gener- 
ators, steam  and  electrical  auxiliaries  and  switching 
apparatus.  The  ultimate  installation  contemplates 
fourteen  units. 

Each  boiler  unit  consists  of  eight  Balx'ock  &  Wilcox 
512-horse-power  boilers,  equipped  with  automatic  stokers 
and  Meade  conveyors.  Coal  is  dumped  directly  from 
cars  into  hoppers  in  the  basement  of  the  train  shed  and 
from  there  conveyed  to  bunkers  of  1,000  ton  capacity 
above  each  unit  of  eight  boilers.  A  steel  stack  20  feet  in 
diameter  and  215  feet  above  the  earth  furnishes  draught 
for  each  2-boiler  unit.  In  the  yard  there  is  also  track 
capacity  for  50  cars  of  coal  of  35  tons  each,  and  further 
dock  space  for  20,000  tons.     A  four  and  one-half  foot 


70 


T h e     C h ica  go 


PLAN    OF    FISK    STREET    STATION 


E I  ect  r  i  ca  I     H  (in  d  h  o  o  k 


71 


72 


T  h  e     C  h  i ca  g  0 


injection  canal  conveys  circulating  water  from  tiie  east 
slip  to  each  set  of  condensers,  and  an  8-foot  discharge 
tunnel  conveys  the  condenser  discharge  to  tlie  west  slip. 

The  5,000-kilowatt  turbo  generators  operate  at  500 
revolutions  per  minute  at  180  pounds  Ijoiler  pressure  with 
150  degrees  super-lieat,  the  potential  being  9,000  volts 
delta  with  the  neutral  brought  out  and  grounded. 

Regulation  of  the  turbines  is  effected  automatically  by 
the  operation   of  the  governor,   whicli   opens  or  closes 


CROSS-SECTION    OF   SWITCH    HOUSE,    FISK   STREET   STATION 


individually   36   small   valves,   delivering   steam   to   the 
nozzles. 

Essential  to  the  successful  operation  of  the.se  turbines 
is  an  unfailing  supply  of  oil  for  the  step  bearing  of  the 
shaft  which  carries  the  weight  of  the  revolving  field  and 
steam  bucket  wheels,  a  total  of  70  tons.  Oil  at  about 
1,000  pounds  per  square  inch  pressure  niust  be  supplied 
constantly  to  keep  the  shaft  off  its  l^earing,  and  to  that 
end  individual  motor-driven  oil  pumps  force  oil  at  this 


Electrical     Ha  n  d  book 


73 


pressure  into  the  hearing  continuously  while  the  turbine 
is  in  service.  An  "accumulator"  or  oil  pressure  reservoir 
operates  in  parallel  with  the  pumps. 

In  the  turbine  room,  an  interior  view  of  wliich  is  sliown 


DETAIL  VIEW  OF  TUKBINE 


on  page  71,  the  steam  auxiliaries  are  all  located  at  the 
base  of  the  Alberger  surface  condenser.  They  consist  of 
a  140-horse-power  horizontal  Corliss  engine,  which  drives 
the  wet  air  and  dry  air  pumps  and  the  centrifugal 
pump,  which  is  capable  of  supplying  140,000  cubic  feet 


74  T  h  e     Chicago 

of  water  per  hour  to  the  condensers.  Two  separate 
steam-driven  feed  pumps  supply  the  boilers  with  feed 
water,  which  is  passed  through  a  heater  after  leaving 
the  hot  well.  All  of  these  auxiliaries  are  within  easy 
reach  of  the  attendant,  whose  duties  do  not  therefore 
require  his  presence  in  the  boiler  room. 

Operating  control  in  this  station  is  provided  in  the 
main  turbine  room  on  a  specially  constructed  operating 
gallery  of  a  capacity  sufficient  to  control  seven  units. 
In  addition,  emergency  operating  tables  and  instrument 
panels  are  provided  in  the  switch  house.  In  the  exciter 
system  we  have  further  illustration  of  the  unit  system 
of  operation,  as  each  turbo  generator  is  provided  with  an 
induction  motor  exciter  set  (220-volt,  3-phase  motor  and 
50-kilowatt,  125-volt  generator).  These  sets  are  fed 
from  the  respective  generators  and  are  interconnected 
by  common  exciter  busses.  A  battery  operates  in  paral- 
lel with  the  motor-driven  exciter  units,  and  a  75-kilowatt 
steam-driven  exciter  is  also  available  whenever  occasion 
demands. 

A  special  electrical  feature  worthy  of  a  more  detailed 
description  is  the  main  operating  switchboard  on  the 
operating  gallery.  This  board  is  a  combination  of  the 
instrument  panel  and  the  operating  table.  Complete 
equipments  of  indicating  instruments  for  the  generators 
and  the  outgoing  lines  occupy  the  instrument  panel, 
while  on  the  operating  table  portion  are  the  controlling 
switches  for  oil  switches,  rheostats,  etc.  All  control 
switch  contacts  are  made  on  the  under  side  of  the  table, 
the  handles  only  projecting  through  the  marble.  A 
special  synchronizing  plug  completes  the  closing  circuit 
of  the  oil  switch  control  switch,  and  causes  on  the  syn- 
chronizer an  indication  of  a  synchronous  or  non-syn- 
chronous relation  of  the  two  points  about  to  be  connected 
by  the  closing  of  the  oil  switch.  Special  pilot  lights  with 
prismatic  lenses  furnish  signals  to  the  operator  of  the 
proper  working  of  the  remote  control  apparatus. 

On  the  rear  of  the  board  all  the  control  and  instrument 
multi-conductor  cables  end  at  a  terminal  board,  carefully 


LtL|tlLllJljL|UL|lJljil|| 


s'  p  s' M,  .^,  M,  ^^: 


6  6  6 


O    O    0    0    O  — 


000O000G 

Diagram  of  High-Tension  Connections— Fisk  Strpt  Station,  Commonwealth  Electric  Company 


Electrical     H  andhoo  k  75 

lettered,  and  the  wiring  from  that  point  to  the  control 
apparatus  and  instruments  is  a  feature  of  the  construc- 
tion. All  cables  leading  from  this  board  to  the  various 
points  of  control  are  lead-covered  and  are  installed  in 
individual  iron  pipes,  which  render  communication  of 
trouble  to  adjacent  circuits  impossible. 

On  the  turbine  room  floor  each  exciter  has  its  switch- 
board with  controlling  devices,  while  at  the  turbine  the 
operator  is  provided  with  a  wattmeter  indicating  the 
total  output  of  the  turbine,  a  frequency  indicator,  and 
an  electrical  signal  device  which  puts  him  in  com- 
munication with  the  operator  on  the  main  operating 
switchboard. 

The  high  tension  system  is  taken  care  of  by  carefully 
insulated  open  bus  construction,  with  the  buses  of  each 
unit  in  a  separate  chamber;  all  being  separated  from 
the  oil  switches  on  the  floor  above  and  the  whole  being 
histalled  in  the  separate  and  especially  constructed 
switch  house,  forty  feet  from  the  turbine  house.  The 
high-tension  connections  are  best  understood  by  refer- 
ence to  the  diagram  of  generator,  bus  and  line  connec- 
tions shown  herewith.  The  output  of  the  generator 
is  conducted  to  the  bus,  in  the  switch  house,  in  single- 
conductor,  lead-covered,  600,000  cm.  cables,  drawn  in 
vitrified  clay  tile  ducts,  oil  circuit  breakers  of  the  most 
modern  type  being  used  throughout  for  high  tension 
switching.  No  cable  is  used  in  the  bus  chamber;  copper 
bars  and  rods  insulated  to  withstand  20,000  volts  have 
been  used,  these  conductors  being  mounted  on  porcelain 
insulators.  The  outgoing  lines,  all  three-conductor,  lead- 
covered  cables,  convey  the  energy  through  an  under- 
grovmd  duct  system  to  the  various  substations. 

One  corner  of  the  basement  under  the  boiler  room  of 
Fisk  Street  Station  is  utilized  as  a  substation.  This  is 
only  a  temporary  arrangement,  as  it  is  intended  later  to 
construct  a  suitable  substation  building  on  the  north 
end  of  the  grounds  surrounding  the  Fisk  Street  Station. 

At  present  this  substation  contains  one  500-kilowatt 
rotary  converter  and  one  250-kilowatt  motor  generator 


76  The     C  h  i  c  a  g  o 

set  composed  of  a  D.  C.  250-volt  motor  and  a  three-phase, 
4,000-volt,  60-cycle  generator  mounted  on  a  common 
shaft,  this  machinery  being  entirely  reversible  in  its 
operation.  The  principal  output  of  this  substation  is  a 
direct  current  supply  to  District  No.  3  of  the  Edison 
Company,  although  four  60-cycle  circuits  are  carried  by 
this  plant,  for  a  period  during  the  evening. 

FIFTY-SIXTH   STREET   STATION 

Situated  just  west  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois 
tracks  is  the  56th  Street  polyphase  generating  plant  of 
the  Commonwealth  Electric  Company.  Page  77  shows 
an  exterior  view  of  this  station.  This  plant  is  a  notable 
one  in  many  ways;  for  example,  its  location  near 
a  fashionable  boulevard  in  the  heart  of  a  residence 
district.  Its  history  as  a  pioneer  in  the  three-phase, 
four-wire  generating  service,  and  its  unique  engineer- 
ing features,  combine  to  make  it,  although  installed 
five  years  ago,  a  most  interesting  central  station. 

The  station  building  proper,  112x120  feet,  is  an 
attractive  one  in  appearance.  The  style  of  architecture 
of  the  building  is  such  that  none  of  its  beauty  is  lost  in  the 
attainment  of  structural  solidity. 

The  boiler  rooin,  about  46x110  feet,  contains  six 
400-horse-power  Babcock  <fc  Wilcox  boilers  with  super- 
heating coils.  A  Meade  conveyor  carries  the  coal  from 
the  hoppers,  into  which  cars  are  unloaded,  to  the  bunkers 
of  1,000  tons  capacity  above  the  boilers.  All  boilers  are 
equipped  with  automatic  stokers,  and  above  the  boilers 
is  a  large  space  reserved  for  a  possible  future  installation 
of  an  economizer. 

Three  large  Worthington  cooling  towers,  SO  feet  in 
height  and  20  feet  in  diameter,  containing  10,000  cooling 
tiles  each,  cool  the  injection  water  supplied  to  the  jet 
condensers  used  with  the  several  generating  units. 

In  the  engine  room,  55  feet  in  width,  120  feet  in  length, 
57  feet  in  height  in  the  clear,  there  are  three  polyphase 
generating  units,  two  1,000-kilowatt  sets  and  one  400- 
kilowatt  set.     These  units  are  identical  in  design,  being 


Electrical     H  an  d  b  o  o  k 


77 


of  the  vertical  cToss-conipound  type  of  the  Southwark 
Foundry  Machine  Company's  design,  and  the  generator 
of  the  revolving  field  type,  giving  three-phase,  60-cycle, 
4,000  volts  delta  pressure,  2,300  volts,  phase  to  neutral. 
Two  steam-driven  exciter  sets,  each  of  30  kilowatts  capac- 
ity, and  one  induction  motor-driven  set  of  the  same 
capacity,  furnish  the  necessary  exciting  and  auxiliary 
operating  current  for  the  station. 

The  switchboard  is  of  liberal  double-deck  design, 
very  handsome  in  appearance,  and  extends  along  the 
we.st  wall  toward  the  nortli  end  of  tlie  building.      All  line 


EXTERIOK    OF    THK    KIFTY-SIXTH    .STREF.T    STATION 


oil  switches  on  tliis  board  are  iiand  operated,  the  gen- 
erator and  bus  tie  switches  only  being  of  the  remote 
control  conipartment  tj'pe.  The  upper  section  of  the 
board  comprises  the  operating  panels,  while  on  the  lower 
panels  are  the  selector  knife  switches  used  in  connection 
with  the  duplicate  busses.  Pressure  compensators  are 
provided  on  all  lighting  circuits,  thus  oliviating  return 
pressure  wires. 

At  the  north  of  the  new  plant  stands  the  old  arc-light 
plant,  the  only  remaining  series  arc-light  plant  owned  by 
the  company.  This  plant  was  one  of  the  original  acqui- 
sitions of  the  company  at  the  time  of  the  general  con- 


78  The     Chicago 

solidation  of  electric  light  interests  which  gave  rise  to 
the  Commonwealth  Electric  Company. 

This  plant  contains  about  700  horse-power  capacity  in 
boilers,  with  two  Porter- Allen  engines  and  three  Williams 
engines,  all  aggregating  about  750  horse-power.  Twenty 
arc-light  machines  of  various  types  supply  a  load  of 
eight  hundred  and  forty  1,200-candle-power  and  six 
hundred  and  eighty  2,000-candle-power  arc  lights.  Most 
of  the  arc-light  machines  are  driven  from  a  45-foot 
jack  shaft,  formerly  direct  connected  at  each  end  to  a 
500-horse-power  engine,  but  now  motor  driven.  The 
series  arc-lamp  load  is  decreasing  at  a  rate  of  about  10 
per  cent  annually,  and  the  ultimate  displacement  of  this 
system  by  the  low-tension  arc  is  anticipated  by  the 
company. 

Between  the  old  and  the  new  plant  of  the  generating 
station  there  has  been  built  an  intermediate  structure 
for  the  accommodation  of  compartment  oil  switches  of 
the  solenoid  operated  type;  but  the  substation  frequency 
changing  machines  occupy  the  north  end  of  the  engine 
room,  and  their  location  defines  the  extent  of  the  present 
and  future  56th  Street  Generating  Station. 

The  unoccupied  floor  space  in  the  new  plant  is  suffi- 
cient for  the  accommodation  of  four  1,000-kilowatt  motor 
generator  sets,  but  there  are  contemplated  at  present 
two  500  and  two  1,000-kilowatt  sets,  the  two  500  sets 
being  already  installed.  At  the  south  end  of  the  sta- 
tion there  has  also  been  installed  one  50-kilowatt  in- 
duction motor-driven  exciter  set,  there  being  space 
for  additional  installation  of  these  units.  The  fre- 
quency changing  motor  generating  sets  consist  of 
two  machines  of  600  and  500-kilowatt  capacity  respect- 
ively, mounted  on  the  same  shaft  and  with  a  common 
base.  The  motor  requires  a  supply  of  25-cycle,  9,000- 
volt,  three-phase  energy,  while  the  generator  delivers 
3-phase,  60-cycle  energy  at  4,150  volts  delta  pressure. 
The  neutral  for  the  60-cycle  machine  is  brought  out  and 
connected  to  the  neutral  of  the  sj^stem,  both  being 
grounded. 


Electrical     H  a  n  d  honk  79 

In  the  old  arc  plant,  as  previonsl}'  mentioned,  there 
are  two  motors,  one  of  600-kilowatt  and  the  other  of  300- 
kilowatt  capacity,  connected  at  the  ends  of  a  long  jack 
shaft  driving  the  arc  machinery.  One  of  these  is  a  com- 
plete motor  generator  set  similar  to  those  described  above 
and  is  so  connected  as  to  enable  it  to  do  duty  either  as  a 
motor,  driving  the  shaft,  or  as  a  frequency  changing  set. 

The  switching  facilities  for  the  substation  have  been 
provided  for  in  the  intermediate  structure  built  espe- 
cially for  that  purpose,  and  the  control  of  these  switches 
is  afforded  by  an  extension  to  the  original  switchboard, 
located  in  the  engine  room.  The  generating  machinery 
in  this  plant  will  probably  remain  intact  and  operate,  at 
least  for  a  time,  as  daily  "Peak"  macliinery,  thus  giving 
another  illustration  of  the  policy  of  centralizing  gener- 
ating capacity,  particularly  during  long-time  light-load 
periods. 

COMMONWEALTH    ELECTRIC    COMPANY's'sUBSTATIONS 

The  substations,  with  the  exception  of  those  located 
in  the  generating  stations,  are  all  detached,  fireproof 
structures,  of  handsome  architectural  design  and  dis- 
tinctive appearance.  In  the  more  modern,  all  wires 
enter  and  leave  the  building  underground,  thus  obviating 
a  feature  which  always  detracts  from  an  otherwise  pleas- 
ing exterior. 

In  the  interior  of  these  substations  we  find  a  standard 
of  construction  equal  to  that  of  the  Chicago  Edison 
Company.  There  is  the  same  uniformity  of  converting 
apparatus  and  auxiliaries  and  also  of  operating  appli- 
ances. The  frequency  changing  sets,  all  of  the  revolving 
field  type,  are  of  two  sizes,  500  and  1,000  kilowatt 
capacity,  and  consist  of  a  9,000-volt,  3-phase,  25-cycle 
motor  mounted  on  the  same  shaft  and  base  with  a 
2300/4000-volt,  3-phase,  60-cycle  generator,  with  neu- 
tral connected  to  neutral  of  system.  No  transformer  is 
used  with  this  set  and  all  regulation  is  effected  by  means 
of  individual  regulators  on  the  60-cycle  distribution 
feeders. 


80  T  he     Chic  a  g  o 

The  starting  of  these  machines  is  accomplished  by 
means  of  a  starting  compensator  used  in  connection  with 
several  machines.  A  double  dial  synchronizer  is  used 
for  synchronizing,  the  method  being  to  throw  in  the 
machine  when  both  25  and  60  cycle  synchronism  is 
indicated.  The  dial  synchronizer  really  consists  of  two 
General  Electric  synchronizers  mounted  in  the  same 
case;  one  synchronizer  indicating  25-cycle  synchronism 
while  the  other  denotes  60-cycle  synchronism. 

The  motor  generators  are  equipped  with  oil  switches, 
electrically  controlled,  while  outgoing  60-cycle  lines  are 
operated  by  means  of  hand-controlled  oil  switches. 
These  feeder  switches  in  the  later  substations  have  over- 
load attachments,  thus  dispensing  with  fuses.  The  special 
double-throw  oil  switches  are  wired  for  transferring  the 
motor  from  the  starting  compensator  bus  to  the  trans- 
mission line  and  also  for  transferring  the  single  phase 
60-cycle  circuits  from  one  phase  to  another  for  balancing 
the  load  on  the  60-cycle  generator. 

Lake  View  Substation 

This  plant,  a  lirick  l)uilding  located  on  an  alley  near 
Lincoln  and  Diversey  avenues,  was  acquired  some 
five  years  ago  by  the  company  and  was  gradually 
modified  until  now  there  remains  only  one  engine- 
driven  generator,  the  other  electrical  equipment  of 
this  plant  being  entirely  new.  One  battery  of  two 
National  boilers  of  75  horse-power  each  and  one  of  two 
Standard  boilers  of  375  horse-power  each,  furnish  more 
than  sufficient  boiler  capacity  for  the  only  remaining 
engine,  a  500-horse-power,  cross-compound  Buckeye, 
which  is  belted  to  a  500-kilowatt,  3-phase  generator. 
This  generator  delivers  energy  at  4,150  volts  delta,  60 
cycles,  the  distribution  system  voltage  of  the  Common- 
wealth Electric  Company.  The  generator  is  really  a 
half  of  a  frequency  changing  set,  similar  to  those  installed 
in  the  other  substations  of  the  company.  A  large  pulley, 
belted  back  to  the  engine,  which  plays  the  part  of  a  motor, 
will  ultimately  be  displaced  by  a  motor,  and  the  substa- 


Electrical     Handbook  81 

tion,  which  at  present  occupies  seventy-five  per  cent  of 
the  present  station  building,  will  be  the  only  occupant. 

The  output  of  the  generators  is  distributed  along  with 
the  output  of  the  frequency  changing  sets  over  the  same 
buses,  and  the  two  are  sometimes  operated  in  parallel. 
Five  hundred  volt  service  is  supplied  from  a  small 
machine,  but  tlie  load  is  fast  disappearing  and  is  alto- 
gether insignificant.  Some  exhaust  steam  heating  is 
also  done  from  this  plant,  for  the  station  is  run  non- 
condensing,  being  remote  from  both  river  and  rail 
facilities. 

Installed  in  the  engine  room  of  the  subsidiary  steam 
plant  is  the  substation  portion  of  the  plant,  which  has 
attained  dimensions  greater  than  the  steam  plant.  It 
is  the  principal  distributing  center  of  the  northern  dis- 
trict. The  equipment  of  this  plant  consists  of  one 
1 ,000-kilowatt  and  one  500-kilowatt  motor  generator 
frequency  changing  set.  These  two  units  operate  in 
parallel  on  both  the  25  and  the  60  cycle  ends.  A  50- 
kilowatt  induction  motor  exciter  set,  fed  by  the  trans- 
mission line,  furnishes  exciting  current  for  the  two  fre- 
quency changing  sets. 

The  25-cycle  switchboard  is  installed  on  a  gallery,  and 
the  60-cycle  switchboard  is  on  the  main  floor  of  the 
station.  This  plant  is  notable  in  that  the  first  frequency 
changing  set  (of  250  kilowatts  capacity  and  since  re- 
moved) was  installed  here,  and  displaced  two  engine- 
driven,  two-phase  generators. 

West  Madison  Street  Substation 

This  substation  is  the  only  one  contahiing  frequency 
changing  sets  exclusively,  and  is  the  principal  distrib- 
uting center  for  the  western  district.  It  is  located  in  the 
rear  of  a  handsome  office  building  which  faces  West 
Madison  street,  as  shown  on  page  82.  The  office  building 
is  three  stories  in  height,  with  living  rooms  on  the  top 
floor,  a  district  repair  office  on  the  second  floor,  and  a 
district  Superintendent's  and  supply  department  on  the 
first   floor.     Beyond   the   substation,   in   the   rear,    is   a 


82 


The     Chicago 


storeroom    designod    for    tlie  extension    of    tlie    8ut).sta- 
tion. 

On  the  main  floor  of  the  substation  are  the  frequency 
changing  sets,  one  500  and  one  1,000  kilowatt  motor 
generator  with    two  oO-l-cilowatt   induction   motor-driven 


WEST  MADISON  STREET  SUBSTATION 


exciter  sets.  All  oil  switches  are  in  the  basement,  the 
controlling  and  instrument  panels  oidy  being  on  the  first 
floor.      All  lines  enter  and  leave  this  station  underground. 

Morgan  Sti-eet  Substation 

A  modern  rotary  converter  installation,  distributing 
direct  current  entirely  to  a  Chicago  Edieon  District,  and 
conil)ined  imder  the    same    roof    witli    a    group  of  higli- 


Electrical     Ha  n  dhoo  k  83 

tension  oil  switches  for  controlling  a  number  of  the 
25-cycle,  high-tension  transmission  lines.  The  build- 
ing is  located  on  an  alley  and  is  capal^le  of  extension  to 
a  capacity  of  five  1,000-kilowatt  rotary  converters.  At 
present  one  1,000-kilowatt  rotary  unit  and  a  Ijattery  with 
a  capacity  of  370  kilowatts  furnish  most  of  the  cur- 
rent for  this,  the  extreme  western  portion  of  the 
Chicago   Edison  Company's  territory. 

The  upper  floor  of  the  building  is  occupied  by  the 
storage  battery,  the  rotary  converter  and  the  switch- 
board being  on  the  first  floor,  while  a  three-unit,  30- 
kilowatt  booster  set  and  the  high-tension  buses  of  the 
transmission  system  occupy  tlie  basement.  A  thor- 
oughly modern  open  bus  construction  similar  to  that  at 
the  Fisk  Street  Station,  and  the  provision  of  means  for 
using  the  booster  as  a  balancing  set  on  the  system,  are 
among  the  features  of  this  station. 

South  Chicago  Substation 

About  nine  miles  southeast  of  the  56th  street  Station, 
which  svipplies  it  with  current,  as  described  in  another 
place,  the  South  Chicago  Substation  is  located  on  South 
Chicago  avenue.  This  is  a  small  brick  building,  contain- 
ing three  100-kilowatt  transformers,  into  which  the 
three-phase  lines  are  led,  the  pressure  being  reduced  to 
4,000  volts  delta.  The  lines  are  brought  into  the 
building  and  taken  out  on  pole  lines,  as  the  district  is 
well  ovit  in  the  suburbs.  All  pressure  regulating  is 
done  back  at  the  generating  station. 

Hyde  Park  Substation 

Purely  a  distributing  and  regulating  center,  this  plant 
is  in  a  class  by  itself.  It  contains  no  converting  machines 
of  any  kind,  the  only  equipment  being  indicating  instru- 
ments, regulators  and  oil  switches.  It  is  located  about 
two  and  one-half  miles  from  56th  Street  Station,  upon 
which  it  depends  for  its  supply  of  energy. 

The  building  itself  stands  on  an  alley  just  north  of  50th 
street  and  east  of  Cottage  Grove  avenue,  in  tlie  middle  of 


84  The     Chicago 

a  residence  district.  The  exterior  of  the  building  in  no 
way  betrays  its  purpose,  and  it  much  resembles  a  de- 
taclied  two-flat  building  of  the  type  so  often  seen  in  the 
nicer  residence  districts. 

The  incoming  transmission  lines  from  Station  A  are  led 
into  a  switchboard  bus  and  from  there  the  three-phase, 
four-wire  and  single-phase  circuits  are  led  out  through 
oil  switches  and  pressure  regulators  to  the  district  for 
distribution.  Excellent  regulation  and  great  facility  in 
handling  troul)le  is  thus  attained. 

OVERHEAD     SYSTEM 

Operating  under  a  franchise  permitting  the  employ- 
ment of  an  overhead  transmission  and  distribution  sys- 
tem, the  Commonwealth  Electric  Company  supplies  the 
outlying  districts  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  a  territory  of 
about  150  square  miles,  with  60-cycle  alternating  current 
service.  The  nucleus  of  this  system  was  the  combina- 
tion of  the  different  alternating  current  systems  of  vary- 
ing pressures  and  frequencies  in  vogue  at  the  advent  of 
the  Commonwealth  Electric  Company,  and  whose  only 
feature  of  similarity  was  the  overhead  transmission. 
Upon  combination,  however,  a  grand  unification  in  the 
form  of  a  three-phase,  four-wire,  4,150-volt  delta,  with 
2,300  volts  to  neutral  system,  was  effected. 

Two-wire,  single-phase  circuits,  with  pressure  regu- 
lators and  pressure  compensators,  take  care  of  the  bulk 
of  the  lighting  business.  All  pressure  regulation  refers 
to  the  feeder  ends,  at  which  points  recording  voltmeters 
show  any  departure  from  constant  pressure.  Single- 
phase  motors  ranging  in  size  up  to  5  horse-power,  and  in 
special  cases  somewhat  larger  ones,  are  permitted  on 
these  circuits.  Four-wire,  three-phase  circuits,  with  one- 
phase  wire  and  the  neutral  equipped  as  a  single-phase 
lighting  circuit,  take  care  of  the  power  and  isolated 
lighting  business,  many  elevator  motors  being  included. 

The  transmission  to  the  Hyde  Park  Substation,  the 
more  important  distributing  center,  is  effected  by  dupli- 
cate, three-phase,  four-wire  lines  carried  on  poles  through 


Electrical     II  a  nd  ho  o  k  8.5 

the  residence  district  for  a  distance  of  about  two  and  one- 
half  miles.  These  lines  are  run  underground  at  boule- 
vard crossings,  the  pole  lines  being  supported  by  poles 
from  30  to  50  feet  in  height.  The  pressure  is  not  raised 
on  this  transmission,  the  energy  delivered  being  simply 
distributed  and  regulated  at  this  substation.  Tlie  pres- 
sure on  the  transmission  line  to  the  South  Chicago  Sub- 
station, about  nine  miles  distant,  is  raised  to  about  8,000 
volts  by  means  of  step-up  transformers,  and  lowered 
again  at  the  substation  to  the  normal  system  pressure. 

Alley  pole  lines  eliminate  the  unsightliness  so  often  the 
basis  of  popular  prejudice  of  urban  property  owners 
against  overhead  systems  in  streets,  and  afford  a  means 
of  service  entrance  into  the  rear  of  buildings.  Trans- 
formers mounted  on  the  cross  arms  of  the  pole  supply 
the  district  with  service,  the  secondary  mains  being  car- 
ried on  the  same  poles.  All  transformers  on  power  cir- 
cuits are  connected  in  star  on  the  high-tension  side  and 
in  delta  on  the  low-tension,  with  neutral  grounded  on  all 
secondaries.  A  block  of  customers  is  usually  supplied 
from  one  or  more  individual  single  phase  transformers 
feeding  secondaries,  the  employment  of  large  intercon- 
nected secondaries  feeding  a  network  being  compara- 
tively rare.  Primary  taps  are  fused  in  many  instances, 
and  all  phase  wires  on  the  circuits  are  fused  l^ack  at  the 
station. 

Some  very  large  customers  are  connected  to  this 
system,  notably  the  Sans  Souci  Park,  a  very  extensive 
and  profusely  illuminated  amusement  garden  located 
about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the  56th  street  plant. 
This  park  has  a  connected  load  of  5,000  16-candle-power 
incandescent  and  60  arc  lights. 

The  distribution  system  in  the  Northern  and  West- 
ern districts  is  effected  by  means  of  substations 
equipped  with  25/  60-cycle  frequency  changing  sets; 
but  in  general  the  distribution  system  is  identical  with 
that  of  the  Southern  district.  The  same  variety  of  serv- 
ice, business  and  residence,  with  their  sub-classes,  is 
taken  care  of  here  as  elsewhere,  and  with  equal  success. 


86  T  he     C  h  i cago 

At  this  writing  approximately  1,000  miles  of  wire  are 
used  on  the  primaries  of  the  alternating  circuits  and  300 
miles  on  the  secondaries.  Triple  braid  weatlier-proof 
wire  of  the  best  quality  is  used  in  all  cases. 

On  the  same  pole  lines  are  carried  about  400  miles  of 
series  arc  circuits,  which  have  suffered  a  great  reduction 
in  number  during  the  past  five  years  and  are  now  all 
localized  in  the  southern  district  and  fed  from  an  old 
arc  plant  adjacent  to  the  56th  Street  Station.  About 
20  miles  of  500- volt  conductors,  also  finds  a  place  on 
the  overhead  transmission  system;  but  this  service,  like 
that  of  the  series  arc,  will  soon  be  abandoned. 

At  a  very  early  date,  therefore,  absolutely  all  dis- 
tribution in  the  outlying  and  scattered  suburljan  dis- 
tricts of  Chicago  will  be  by  means  of  the  2,300/4,000-volt, 
60-cycle  overhead  system,  which  is  so  admirably  adapted 
for  this  condition.  Likewise  also  the  distribution  in  the 
heavy  business  and  older  residential  districts  will  be 
exclusively  by  means  of  the  115/230-volt  underground 
system,  particularly  adapted  for  such  service,  while 
the  transmission  from  large  power  houses  is  25-cycle,  3- 
phase  current  at  9,000  volts. 

ORGANIZATION 

Although  the  Chicago  Edison  and  Commonwealth 
Electric  companies  are  two  separate  and  distinct  cor- 
porations as  to  financial  organizations,  securities,  boards 
of  directors,  operating  territory,  contracts  and  accounts, 
they  have  executive  officers  and  heads  of  departments 
who  hold  the  same  positions  in  both  companies,  and 
occupy  general  offices  in  common. 

The  Chicago  Edison  Company,  as  previously  stated, 
operates  a  territory  practically  coincident  with  the  old 
city,  covering  approximately  15  square  miles,  with  the 
present  business  center  as  a  nucleus.  It  transacts  all  of 
its  general  office  business  in  its  downtown  office,  known 
as  the  Edison  Building. 

The  Commonwealth   Electric  Company  maintains,  in 


Electrical     Ha  n  d  b  o  o  k  87 

addition  to  its  general  offices  in  the  Edison  Building, 
three  branches  or  district  offices,  located  north,  west  and 
south  of  the  main  offices,  each  answering  as  a  local  head- 
quarters for  its  respective  district.  Each  of  the  three 
district  organizations  is  presided  over  by  a  District  Super- 
intendent, who  has  direct  charge  of  men  of  all  depart- 
ments reporting  at  his  district  office. 

In  general  all  dealings  with  customers  that  pertain  to 
immediate  income,  collection  of  bills,  complaints  and 
similar  matters  of  local  character,  are  expeditiously 
handled  under  the  inunediate  supervision  of  the  District 
Superintendent.  All  questions  of  policy  in  soliciting 
new  business,  all  disbursements,  all  engineering  and 
operating  and  similar  matters  which  affect  directly  the 
entire  company  are  handled  by  Heads  of  Departments 
under  the  supervision  of  tlie  executive  officers  of  the 
company. 

A  Contract  or  Soliciting  Department,  consisting  of 
about  seventy  persons,  solicits  for  and  receives  applica- 
tions and  contracts  for  the  sale  of  electrical  energy.  This 
work  is  somewhat  subdivided  and  specialized,  covering 
incandescent  lighting,  power,  arc  lights,  wiring  construc- 
tion and  signs.  Electricity  is  sold  for  incandescent 
lighting  on  meter  basis  at  a  list  price  of  20  cents  per 
kilowatt  hour,  using  the  Wright  Demand  system,  the 
maximum  indicators  being  read  monthly,  and  the  first 
30  hours'  use  of  the  maximum  demand  consumed  in 
each  month  being  sold  at  list  price,  secondary  or  ex- 
cess hours  at  10  cents  per  kilowatt  hour,  witli  a  sched- 
ule of  extra  discovmts  for  quantity  only. 

Power  is  sold  on  a  similar  maximum-meter  basis,  with 
a  list  price  of  10  cents  per  kilowatt  hour.  Considerable 
arc  light  and  sign  business  is  sold  on  a  flat-rate  basis — 
so  much  per  week — the  companies  controlling  such 
lighting  by  locked  switches  operated  by  their  patrolmen, 
so  no  advantage  can  be  taken  of  them.  This  department 
also  contracts  for  wiring  construction  to  be  done  by  the 
companies,  sells  motors,  heating  appliances,  and  so  on. 
The  Edison  Company  fvu-nishes  free,  and  the  Common- 


88  The     Chicago 

wealth  Company  a  limited  number,  of  incandescent 
lamps  for  original  installation,  while  both  companies 
furnish  free  incandescent  lamps  for  renewals.  Arc  lamps, 
and,  under  certain  conditions,  signs,  are  furnished  free 
by  the  companies.  Solicitors  are  employed  on  the 
salary  basis,  with  small  commissions  for  special  and 
excess  work. 

Contracts,  upon  being  obtained,  are  first  submitted  to 
the  Accounting  Department  for  credit  approval,  with  as 
few  deposits  as  possible.  After  approval  of  credit, 
advices  are  sent  to  the  Inspection  Department,  which 
passes  upon  the  wiring  installation;  to  the  Line  and 
Service  Construction  Department  if  service  wires  are 
required,  and  to  the  Meter  Department  to  prepare 
meters.  After  approval  of  the  Aviring,  the  Inspection 
Department  advises  the  Operating  Department  to  install 
meters  and  lamps  and  to  connect  the  service.  The 
latter,  after  executing  order,  returns  advices  through  the 
various  departments  to  the  Accounting  Department, 
where  an  account  is  opened  for  the  new  customer  on  the 
books,  and  the  order  slip  is  filed. 

The  Accounting  Department,  with  Ijranches  at  the 
district  offices,  makes  out  all  bills  for  service  and  con- 
struction work,  keeps  and  collects  all  accounts,  and  has 
the  custody  of  all  contracts.  The  mails  are  used  for  the 
distribution  of  bills,  and  such  money  as  is  not  paid  at 
the  companies'  offices  is  attended  to  by  collectors. 
Modern  labor-saving  devices  for  accounting  work  are 
used  as  far  as  possible,  such  as  addressographs,  sealers, 
etc.,  and  the  loose-leaf  type  of  ledgers  and  records  pre- 
vail. Employees  are  all  paid  by  check,  the  office  force 
being  paid  semi-monthly,  and  the  station  operatives, 
construction  men,  street  laborers,  and  others,    weekly. 

The  Meter  Department,  as  its  name  implies,  has  entire 
charge  of  all  meters  on  customers'  premises.  Mechanical 
meters,  principally  Thomson-Houston  and  Fort  Wayne, 
are  used.  The  meters  are  generally  read  monthly,  but 
a  very  considerable  portion  of  business  is  handled  on  a 
weeklv  basis. 


Electrical     Ha  n  d  boo  k  89 

The  Inspection  Department  examines  and  keeps  a 
record  of  all  customers,  lighting  and  power  installations, 
and  also  a  record  of  all  transformers  and  alternating  cur- 
rent service  connections.  In  addition,  this  department 
checks  the  character  of  service  rendered  to  customers 
and    investigates  all   cases  of   lost   and  stolen    current. 

The  Interior  Wiring  Department  employs  more  men 
than  any  wiring  concern  in  the  city;  does  a  large  volume 
of  business,  is  more  than  self-supporting,  and  is  looked 
upon  as  a  valuable  adjunct  for  securing  new  business. 
The  policy  of  the  company  as  to  this  department  is  not 
to  sharpen  competition,  but  rather  to  encourage  and 
maintain  the  highest  standard  of  interior  wiring  con- 
struction, so  essential  to  the  best  lighting  and  power 
service. 

A  Supply  Department  combines  with  the  companies' 
stores  a  Sales  Department  for  selling  of  supplies  to  con- 
tractors and  the  general  public.  It  is  also  directly  profit- 
able, and  an  aid  in  business-promotion  work  by  display- 
ing lighting  devices  and  selling  apparatus. 

The  Operating  Department  has  charge  of  the  genera- 
tion and  distribution  of  all  electrical  energy  to  the  com- 
panies' patrons.  Among  its  duties  might  be  mentioned 
the  operation  of  the  various  stations  and  substations,  the 
extension  and  maintenance  of  all  underground  and  over- 
head lines,  all  meter  work,  customers'  repairs,  and  the 
trimming  and  patrolling  of  arc  lampg. 

The  Engineering  Department,  employing  a  consid- 
erable number  of  engineers  and  draughtsmen,  is  in 
direct  charge  of  the  erection  and  equipment  of  all  stations 
and  substations,  and  has  general  charge  of  all  the  en- 
gineering work  of  the  two  companies. 

A  Statistical  Bureau  collects  and  preserves  in  access- 
sible  and  useful  form  all  general  and  department  data  of 
every  kind. 

In  addition  to  these  various  working  departments,  the 
employees  sustain  a  library  supplied  with  all  the  tech- 
nical and  many  of  the  standard  magazines,  and  a  good 
and  growing  collection  of  standard  technical  books. 


90  T  h  e    C  h  icago 

A  magazine  called  the  Electric  City,  with  a  monthly 
circulation  of  25,000  copies,  having  for  its  object  the 
complete  electrification  of  the  city,  is  published  in  the 
interests  of  the  two  companies. 

This  entire  organization  has  been  the  growth  of  a 
dozen  years  under  the  present  administration,  and  is, 
with  the  growth  of  the  companies,  constantly  being 
elaborated  and  extended.  During  the  past  six  years, 
being  the  period  covered  by  the  operations  of  both  of  the 
companies,  the  combined  connected  load  of  the  central 
stations  has  increased  from  600,000  16  candle-power 
equivalents  in  1898  to  a  connected  load  at  date  of 
2,000,000  16  candle-power  ecjuivalents. 

Single  customers  consuming  500,000  kilowatt  hours  of 
energy  annually  are  common,  and  over  ten  times  this 
consumption  has  Ijeen  reached  in  individual  cases.  The 
companies  are  making  special  efforts  to  obtain  this  large 
business  and  remove  or  prevent  the  installation  of  iso- 
lated plants,  but  at  the  same  time  in  no  way  neglecting 
the  smaller  business. 

The  field  for  the  extension  of  business  seems  to  increase 
with  the  facilities  for  supply.  Especially  does  this  seem 
to  be  true  in  the  matter  of  electric  power.  The  policy 
of  the  present  administration  is,  and  has  been,  one  of 
liberality  and  aggressiveness,  utilizing  the  highest  econ- 
omies of  production  which  the  most  modern  apparatus 
can  give,  keeping  the  condition  of  the  property  up  to  a 
high  standard,  and  selling  the  product  at  the  lowest 
price  consistent  with  a  fair  return  to  the  shareholders. 


ELECTRIC  TRANSPORTATION 
AND  TELEPHONE  SERVICE 


The   Elevated  Railways  of  Chicago 

The  Chicago  elevated  railway  systems  are  operated  by 
electricity  and  are  all  run  over  the  so-called  Union  Loop, 
making  a  circuit  of  about  two  miles  through  and  around 
the  business  center  of  the  city.  There  are  eleven  sta- 
tions on  the  Loop  from  which  each  road  receives  and 
discharges  passengers.  The  Loop  is  a  two-track  railroad 
built  in  the  center  of  the  streets,  the  north  side  of  the 
Loop  being  on  Lake  street  from  Fifth  avenue  to  Wabash 
avenue,  the  east  side  being  on  Wabash  avenue  froin  Lake 
street  to  Van  Buren  street,  the  south  side  being  on  Van 
Buren  street  from  Wabash  avenue  to  Fifth  avenue,  and 
the  west  side  being  on  Fifth  avenue  from  Van  Buren 
street  to  Lake  street. 

In  the  year  1903  the  elevated  railroads  of  Chicago  car- 
ried 114,873,652  passengers.  Average  number  carried 
per  day,  314,722. 

Thirty-five  per  cent  of  the  daily  passengers  carried  are 
received  and  discharged  during  the  rush  hours  morning 
and  evening.  In  the  evening  rush  hours  the  Loop  loads 
38,600  passengers  per  hour.  During  this  period  there 
are  from  48  to  53  trains  of  four  and  five  cars  each  on  the 
Loop  at  one  time.  The  time  required  to  make  a  circuit 
of  the  Loop,  stopping  at  each  station  to  discharge  and 
receive  passengers,  is  from  13  to  15  minutes. 

The  accompanying  sketch  shows  the  Loop  and  the 
various  roads  leading  to  and  from  it,  together  with  loca- 
tion of  stations  on  the  various  line?. 

Chicago's  elevated  railroads  are  the  Metropolitan  West 
Side  Elevated,  the  South  Side  Elevated,  the  Northwest- 
ern Elevated  and  the  Chicago  and  Oak  Park  Elevated. 

The  Metropolitan  West  Side  Elevated  Railway  Com- 
pany has  38.7  miles  of  single  track,  built  on  its  own  right 
of  way.  It  is  a  four-track  line  west  to  Marshfield  avenue. 
From  Marshfield  avenue  the  road  branches  into  three 
separate  lines:  the  Douglas  Park  line,  the  Garfield  Park 
93 


94  The     Chicago 

line,  and  the  Huniljoldt  Park  lino;  tlie  Logan  Square 
branch  leaves  the  Humboldt  Park  line  at  Robey  street 
and  North  ajk'enue.  This  company  has  87  motor  cars 
and  262  coaches.  It  at  present  is  operating  the  locomo- 
tive system,  but  is  transferring  to  the  multi-unit  system. 
The  power  house  is  located  at  Throop  and  Van  Buren 
streets,  the  nearest  elevated  station  thereto  being  at 
Center  avenue  on  the  Garfield  Park  and  Douglas  Park 
lines.  The  capacity  of  the  power  plant  is  10,1(J0  kilo- 
watts. 

The  South  Side  Elevated  Pvailroad  Company's  road 
runs  south  and  east  from  the  Union  Loop  to  Stony 
Island  avenue  and  Sixty-third  street,  a  distance  of  8.6 
miles.  It  is  built  on  its  own  right  of  way  except  about 
one  and  one-half  miles  on  Sixty-third  street.  It  has 
18.8  miles  of  single  track.  It  was  the  first  road  to  equip 
electrically  with  the  multi-unit  system.  The  rolling 
stock  consists  of  220  motor  cars  and  30  coaches.  Its 
power  house,  located  on  State  street  between  Thirty- 
ninth  and  Fortieth  streets,  has  a  capacity  of  7,700  kilo- 
watts. In  its  power  system  this  road  has  two  storage 
battery  plants  floating  on  its  line,  one  at  Twelfth  street 
and  tlie  other  at  Sixty-third  street,  each  having  a  capac- 
ity of  750  kilowatts. 

The  Northwestern  Elevated  Railroad  Company's  road 
runs  from  the  Union  Loop  to  Wilson  avenue,  a  distance 
of  6.37  miles,  built  on  its  own  riglit  of  way,  except  the 
distance  from  the  Loop  to  Chicago  avenue.  This  latter 
portion  of  the  road  is  a  two-track  road,  and  from  Chicago 
Avenue  to  Wilson  avenue  it  is  a  four-track  road,  the  two 
outer  tracks  being  used  for  local  service  and  the  two 
inner  tracks  for  express  service.  This  road  has  23.7 
miles  of  single  track.  It  is  at  present  using  the  locomo- 
tive system,  but  is  transferring  to  the  multi-unit  system. 
Its  rolling  stock  at  present  consists  of  59  motor  cars  and 
160  coaches.  The  power  house  is  located  at  Southport 
and  Fullerton  avenues  and  has  a  capacity  of  8,100  kilo- 
watts. This  power  house  lies  2,000  feet  west  of  tlie 
structure  and  is  convenientlv  reached  from  the  Fullerton 


Electrical     Ha  n  d  h  o  n  k  95 

avenue  station.  At  the  Wilson  avenue  terminal  is  a 
modern  storage  battery  plant  of  1,500  kilowatts  capacity. 

The  accompanying  map  shows  in  clotted  lines  a  pro- 
posed branch  of  the  Northwestern  Elevated,  known  as 
the  Ravenswood  line,  which  will  be  a  three-track  struc- 
ture 3. 48  miles  long.  This  line  will  connect  with  the 
center  or  express  tracks  of  the  main  line,  and  all  trains 
will  run  express  from  the  junction  to  and  from  the  Loop. 
The  dotted  line  near  the  lake  shore  from  Wilson  avenue 
to  Evanston  shows  a  proposed  extension.  This  will  be 
a  two-track  railroad  6^  miles  long,  which  will  run 
express  service  from  Evanston  to  Chicago,  a  distance  of 
12.7  miles. 

The  Chicago  and  Oak  Park  Elevated  Railroad  Com- 
pany has  a  two  and  three  track  structure,  built  on  Lake 
street  and  ruiniing  west  on  an  elewated  structure  from 
the  Loop  to  Fifty-second  avenue  and  from  that  point  on 
an  incline  to  the  surface  paralleling  South  boulevard 
and  the  Chicago  &  North-Western  steam  road  to  Harlem 
avenue,  the  west  line  of  Oak  Park,  a  distance  of  8.82 
miles.  It  has  20.57  miles  of  single  track.  Its  third  or 
express  track,  running  from  Rockwell  street  west  to 
Fortieth  avenue,  enables  it  to  operate  express  trains  to 
the  city  in  the  morning  and  from  tlie  city  in  the  evening. 
This  road  has  two  modern  sub-stations  taking  alternating 
current  from  the  Commonwealth  Electric  Company's 
plant.  Tlie  transmission  line  to  tlie  Lombard  avenue 
sub-station  is  9  miles  in  length,  and  from  the  power  house 
to  the  Rockwell  street  station  is  5.18  miles  in  length. 
These  two  sub-stations  are  equipped  with  six  1,000- 
kilowatt,  six-phase,  25-cycle,  rotary  converters.  The 
rolling  stock  of  this  road  consists  of  44  motor  cars  and 
122  coaches,  using  the  locomotive  system,  four  cars  per 
train. 

THE    SOUTH    SIDE    ELEVATED    RAILROAD    CfJMPANY    POWER 
PLANT 

The  power  house  of  the  South  Side  Elevated  Railroad 
Company,  designed  by  Messrs.  Sargent  &  Lundy  of 
Chicago,  presents  an  example  of  the  use  of  a  power  house 


96 


The     Chicago 


containing  a  number  of  large  engine  type  direct  current 
railwaj'^  generators,  especially  designed  for  flexibility  and 
reliability  in  handling  a  fluctuating  power  load  of  wide 
limits. 

The  power  house  Ijegan  operation  on  May  1st,  1898. 
Up  to  the  present  date  there  has  at  no  time  been  any 
failure  of  necessary  supply  of  current,  either  in  whole  or 
in  part,  though  the  conditions  of  overload  have  been  unu- 
sually severe.  For  the  period  November  12th  to  26th, 
1903,  the  twenty-four-hour  average  output  from  the 
station  was  4501  kilowatts:  the  normal  full  load  rating 
of  generators  then  installed  being  6,200  kilowatts.  The 
twenty-four-hour  average  load  November  17th  was  4,981 
kilowatts,  with  a  three-hour  period  during  which  the 
average  load  was  7,578  kilowatts,  and  a  one-hour  load 
of  8,028  kilowatts,  the  maximum  peak  being  about 
12,500  kilowatts.  It  is  only  fair  to  state  that  such  an 
overload  record  is  creditable  to  the  engineer  in  charge 
as  well  as  to  reliability  of  the  installation  in  every  detail. 

The  present  normal  full-load  capacity  is  7,700  kilo- 
watts, all  in  direct  current  generators,  at  6.30  volts. 


POWER  HOUSE,  SOUTH  SmE  ELEVATED  RAILRO.-\D  COMl'ANV 


Illmois    Tiunicl  Company 

Transportation  and  sanitation — these  are  the  great 
problems  of  Chicago.  The  solution  of  the  first  is  the 
removal  of  the  tremendous  congestion  upon  the  surface 
of  the  streets,  caused  by  the  immense  congregation  of 
people  and  vehicles  in  a  small  space.  To  understand 
this  it  must  be  known  that  the  great  mass  of  traffic  and 


STREET   INTERSECTION   OF   TUNNEL 


teaming  for  business  pvirposes  is  practically  confined  to 
a  square  mile  in  the  heart  of  the  business  district,  "the 
loop,"  as  the  resident  designates  the  space  bounded  by 
the  elevated  structure  occupying  Van  Buren  street  on 
the  south,  Lake  street  on  the  north,  Wabash  avenue  on 
the  east  and  Fifth  avenue  on  the  west.  Over  this  struc- 
ture are  operated  all  the  cars  of  all  the  elevated  roads, 


98 


T  h  e     C  h  i  ca  (/  o 


Electrical     Ha  n d boo  k  })}) 

each  of  tlieiii,  tl\rough  a  score  of  stations,  discharging 
thousands  of  pedestrians  hourly  into  this  district.  This, 
in  a  community  of  2,241,000  souls,  all  of  them  at  some 
time  or  other  drawn  into  the  "loop"  for  business  or 
pleasure,  presents  a  phase  in  transportation  difficult 
even  to  appreciate  unless  understood  through  experience. 
Again,  it  must  be  realized  that  within  this  so-called 
"loop"  are  the  great  retail  shops,  the  hotels,  the  theaters, 
the  newspaper  offices  and  the  sky-scraping  office  build- 
ings, some  of  the  latter  sheltering  10,000  people  in  their 
daily  vocations,  and  visited  each  twenty-four  hours  by 
as  many  more.  And  all  this  time  within  the  "loop"  is 
the  traffic — street  cars,  trucks,  delivery  wagons,  the  car- 
riages of  the  pleasure  seekers,  and  those  most  essential 
vehicles,  the  ambulances,  police  and  fire  apparatus. 

In  the  problem  of  sanitation  are  two  important  con- 
siderations— purity  of  water  and  purity  of  air.  In  the 
building  of  its  great  sanitary  canal  and  its  work  upon  a 
vast  system  of  intercepting  sewers,  Chicago  promises  to 
solve  the  first  question.  As  yet  but  slight  progress  has 
been  made  towards  clearing  the  atmosphere.  Soft  coal  is 
burned  in  this  city.  The  gigantic  office  buildings  use 
thousands  of  tons  of  screenings  in  their  furnaces,  and  not 
only  do  the  chimneys  belch  forth  darkening  clouds  of 
oily  smoke  and  cinders,  liut  the  dusty  loads  of  coal  are 
trucked  along  the  thoroughfare  in  open  wagons,  while 
the  residue  of  ashes  is  taken  away  and  carried  through 
the  streets,  a  goodly  proportion  to  be  blown  into  the 
eyes  and  nostrils  of  the  pedestrians  before  it  is  dumped 
at  some  outlying  point. 

Surrounding  this  "loop"  section  and  situated  as  if 
for  the  purpose  of  accentuating  the  gloom,  are  the  ter- 
mini of  the  railroads.  East,  west,  north  and  south,  the 
visitor  is  confronted  with  depots  and  yards.  Belching 
volumes  of  soft  coal  smoke,  the  locomotives  add  to  the 
nuisance,  and  no  matter  which  way  the  wind  blows, 
Chicago,  in  its  business  district,  the  habitation  of  its 
energy  and  its  spirit,  is  smoky,  gloomy,  dirty. 

But  the  solution  is  at  hand,  and,  like  everv  solution 


100 


The     C  h  i  cago 


to  a  great  problem,  it  is  simple,  as  simple  as  a  hole  in  the 
ground.     As  a  matter  of  fact,  a  hole  in  the  ground  is  the 
solution.     In  exact  truth  it  is  just  this — the  conduit  of 
the  Illinois  Tunnel  Company. 

By    authority   of   an    ordinance    passed   by    the    city 
council  of  Chicago,  February  20,  1899,  a  franchise  was 
granted  to  the  Illinois  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company 
^^^^  permitting    it    to    con- 

struct and  maintain  a 
conduit  for  telephone 
purposes.  From  this 
has  been  the  expansion 
which  to-day  means 
that  the  successor  of 
the  original  corporation , 
the  Illinois  Tunnel  Com- 
pany, not  only  has  the 
first  granted  privilege, 
but  the  right  to  con- 
struct tunnels  which 
may  be  utilized  for 
freight-carrying  on  a 
basis  which  is  a  marvel 
to  the  world. 

Aside    from    all  else, 
the     telephone     opera- 
tions   of     the     Illinois 
Tunnel    Company     are 
marvelous  even   in  this 
day   of    perfection   and 
progress  along  the  lines 
of  mechanical  ingenuity.     Already  installed  and  in  work- 
ing order  within  the  business  district  of   the  city  are  ten 
thousand  automatic  instruments,  furnishing  subscribers 
instantaneous  service,  absolutely  secret  and  without  the 
intervention  of  human  operators.     It  is,  in  a  phrase,  "a 
girlle.ss,     cussless,     out-of-orderless"     system,     enabling 
patrons  of   the  telephone  to  secure  immediate  communi- 
cation without  the  intervention  of  a  third  party.     It  is  a 


Electrical     Handbook  lOi 

conversation-carrying  device  which  protects  the  user.  It 
makes  possible  the  secrecy  of  a  long-distance  talk,  for 
with  this  system  there  is  no  "breaking  in,"  no  "cutting 
out,"  no  "listening  in,"  none  of  thp  annoying  features  of 
the  inanual  board  system.  It  insures  a  conversation 
against  the  eavesdropping  of  a  third  per.son,  and  its 
operation  is  quicker  and  simpler  than  that  of  the  tele- 
phone with  which  it  competes.  In  addition  to  this,  it 
is  capable  of  unlimited  expansion,  is  never  out  of  order 
and  during  the  period  of  its  installation  has  received  no 
adverse  criticism  from  its  users.  It  is  a  factor,  too,  in 
solving  the  problem  of  transportation,  because  it  enables 
people  to  conduct  the  most  important  conversations 
between  distant  points,  assured  of  accuracj'^  of  trans- 
mission, and  so  removes  the  nece.ssity  of  travel  when  an 
important  confidential  conference  is  desired.  It  is  a 
further  factor  in  the  manufacturing  world,  for  the  com- 
pany controls  the  great  factory  wherein  the  telephones 
and  telephonic  devices  are  produced.  And  this  output 
is  not  confined  to  the  operating  territory  in  Chicago 
alone,  for  in  many  cities  of  the  country  automatic 
exchanges  have  been  established,  while  there  is  a  con- 
stantly growing  demand  throughout  the  land — so  much 
of  a  demand  that  the  present  capacity  of  the  works, 
already  large,  is  unable  to  keep  pace  with  unsolicited 
orders. 

But  this  sphere  of  the  work  of  the  Illinois  Tunnel 
Company,  important  as  it  is,  interesting  as  it  appears, 
valuable  as  it  may  be  in  the  commercial  sense,  is  pygmy 
when  contrasted  with  the  stupendous  principal  under- 
taking of  the  corporation. 

Beneath  Chicago,  their  tops  24  feet  6  inches  below 
the  surface,  are  the  tunnels.  With  walls  of  concrete, 
fashioned  after  the  shape  of  a  horseshoe,  they  form  a 
network  of  sul^terranean  streets  under  the  surface  in 
the  business  district  of  the  metropolis.  More  than  this, 
the  tunnels  go  beneath  the  river  to  the  north  and  west 
divisions  of  the  city,  and,  under  the  terms  of  the  grant 
from  the  numicipality,  may  lie  extended  \nitil  tlie  entire 


30^2  The     Chicago 

territory  of  Chicago  is  undermined  for  the  furtherance 
of  the  useful  purposes  set  forth  in  the  license.  With  the 
methods  of  building  this  work,  which  is  at  once  a  wcn- 
derment  to  layman  and  engineer  alike,  it  is  not  the  pur- 
pose of  this  article  to  deal.  The  exigencies  of  time  and 
space  prohibit  a  narration  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
first  shafts  were  sunk,  how  thousands  of  men  and  hun- 
dreds of  teams  were  employed  on  the  work,  which  was 
pushed  to  completion  almost  before  the  citizens  of 
Chicago  knew  what  was  being  done.  It  is  the  purpose 
to  set  forth  the  accomplishment  and  to  tell  something 
of  the  ends  which  are  to  be  attained.  For  when  it  is  all 
completed,  and  the  work  of  the  projectors  is  finished, 
the  great  problems  of  transportation  and  sanitation  in 
Chicago  will  have  been  solved. 

After  the  tunnels  were  constructed  under  every  street, 
with  the  necessary  connections  beneath  the  river  so  that 
all  divisions  of  the  city  may  be  reached  in  the  expand- 
ing system,  permission  was  granted  the  Company  by  the 
municipality  to  conduct  a  general  transportation  busi- 
ness. This  comprehends  the  carrying  of  mail,  news- 
papers, packages,  merchandise,  coal,  lumber,  grain  and 
every  conceivable  sort  of  freight.  The  additional  license 
or  grant  also  permits  the  company  to  use  the  tunnels  as 
termini  for  the  transfer  of  freiglit  from  the  steam  railroad 
cars  to  the  cars  of  the  tunnel  company,  and  deliver  this 
freight  through  the  tunnels  and  into  the  basements  of 
the  buildings  throughout  the  city. 

The  magnitude  of  this  latter  phase  may  be  better 
understood  when  it  is  realized  that  Chicago  is  the  greatest 
railroad  center  in  the  world.  More  tlian  thirty-five  per 
cent  of  the  entire  mileage  of  the  United  States  terminates 
in  the  mile  and  one-half  square  which  includes  the  busi- 
ness center  of  the  city.  The  cost  of  teaming  to  and 
from  the  railroad  terminals  in  this  territory  was,  in  1903, 
considerably  in  excess  of  $50,000,000,  this  sum  repre- 
senting a  much  larger  expenditure  than  is  earned  by  any 
of  the  railroads  entering  the  territory. 

An    examination    of   the   plat    (included   herein)    will 


Electrical     II  andbo  o  k 


103 


show  tliat  the  railroads  have  acquired  practically  all  the 
property  that  may  be  secured  for  terminal  uses.  Be- 
cause of  the  terminal  locations  in  the  congested  districts 
of  a  great  city  and  the  consequent  accidents,  many  of 
them  of  a  serious,  if  not  fatal  character,  constantly  occur- 
ring at  grade  crossings,  the  city  covmcil  of  Cliicago  forced 
the  elevation  of  the  tracks,  and  this  almost  immediately 
reduced  the  capacity  of  these  terminals  from  twenty-five 
to  fifty  per  cent.      With  the  reduction  of  terminal  capac- 


ELECTRIC    LOCO.MUTU  1^    .^.\D    LO.VDED    FREIGHT   CAR 


ity  conies  the  increase  of  trucking  requirements,  and 
to-day  it  may  be  safely  estimated  that  30,000  teams  are 
in  use  within  the  already  over-congested  business  dis- 
trict. It  must  also  be  understood  that  the  teaming  and 
trucking  service  is  practically  crowded  into  a  time  limit 
of  from  eight  to  nine  hours,  and  this  in  the  busiest  part 
of  the  city's  busy  day.  Furthermore,  this  service  may 
not  be  depended  upon  entirely,  for  while  it  is  endurable 
and  fairly  satisfactory  when  weather  conditions  are  good, 
a  great  proportion  becomes  useless  in  bad  weather,  delays 


104  The     Chic  a 


90 


are  incurred,  and  long,  annoying  detentions  are  resultant, 
thus  inviting  further  confusion  and  congestion  on  the 
following  fair  days. 

This,  however,  is  not  all.  The  cost  of  operating  and 
maintaining  the  trucking  business  in  the  streets  is  of 
vital  importance.  On  the  estimate  of  a  conservative 
statistician  the  total  investment  in  trucking  rigs  within 
the  city  is  placed  at  $57,000,000.  The  cost  of  main- 
taining this  immense  establishment  is  becoming  too 
expensive,  and  merchants  are  seeking  a  relief  which 
involves  a  fixed  charge  per  year  on  the  handling  of  their 
tonnage,  without  investment  on  their  part.  The  team- 
ing interests  have,  without  question,  reached  their  limit. 
They  have  taken  the  streets,  they  have  placed  eA-ery 
horse  in  service  that  it  is  possible  to  use,  they  have  ad- 
vanced their  charges,  they  have  co-operated  with  every 
one  with  whom  co-operation  is  possible,  until  pedestrian 
and  merchant,  receiver  and  shipper,  find  themselves  not 
only  helpless  but  utterly  swamped. 

It  is  this  condition  that  the  Illinois  Tunnel  Company 
will  change.     To  begin  with,  the  service  is  increased  from 

ght  or  nine  hours  a  day  in  fair  weather  to  twenty-four 
hours  in  all  kinds  of  weather.  Instantly  the  capacity  of 
the  terminals  is  increased  l)y  at  least  one  hundred  per 
cent.  But  this  is  not  all,  nor  the  most  important  from 
the  point  of  A'iew  of  good  government.  The  first  con- 
sideration is  the  welfare  of  the  people.  In  New  York 
and  other  cities  the  folution  of  the  transportation  prob- 
lem is  to  put  the  people  underground  and  reserve  the 
surface  for  traffic.  The  saner  and  more  desirable  way 
is  to  reverse  tliis  and  keep  the  people,  who  wish  quick 
and  safe  locomotion,  in  the  air  and  in  the  light.  The 
mechanical  and  commercial  side  of  life  should  be  put 
underground.  The  streets  ought  to  be  preserved  to  the 
pedestrians.  In  the  plan  of  the  Illinois  Tvmnel  Company 
the  ungainly,  unsighth'  and  awkward  things,  the  parcels, 
freight,  coal,  and  merchandise,  are  sent  underground,  to 
the  advantage  of  the  general  public,  which  is  given  the 
sunshine  and  freedom  of  tlie  thoroughfares. 


3^ 


(UiN. 


,/l    i 


(iL 


Elect  r  real     H  a  n  dboo  k  1 05 

lu  the  designiufi  of  a  proper  system  for  the  transpor- 
tation of  merchandise  through  the  tunnels  so  as  to  care 
for  any  increased  business  and  relieve  congestion,  these 
facts  had  to  be  considered: 

First — The  strength  of  any  railroad  as  to  the  tonnage 
which  may  be  handled  by  it  depends  upon  its  side  tracks. 
Therefore,  as  the  Illinois  Tunnel  Company  is  limited  as 
to  the  space  it  could  occupy  in  the  streets  with  absolute 
safety  to  the  buildings,  a  size  was  adopted  which  woutd 
permit,  if  necessary,  a  side  track  to  be  constructed  on 
each  side  of  the  main  tunnels,  which  are  built  in  the 
middle  of  the  streets,  forty  feet  below  the  surface.  From 
a  glance  at  the  plat  it  will  be  observed  that  there  are  nine 
streets  leading  north  and  soutlv  and  ten  streets  leading 
east  and  west  in  the  business  or  congested  district.  As 
the  tunnels  are  constructed,  this  makes  a  railroad  of 
nine  tracks  wide  north  and  south,  with  room  to  place 
two  sidings  on  each  track,  while  east  and  west  the  tunnels 
are  similar  to  a  railroad  ten  tracks  wide,  each  track  being 
sufficiently  apart  from  every  other  to  permit  two  sidings 
in  each  street.  In  the  picture  showing  an  intersection 
of  two  streets  it  will  be  seen  that  at  least  one  hundred 
loops  may  l)e  utilized  liy  trains  in  w4iich  to  pass  around 
every  block,  thus  multiplving  the  carrving  capacity  of 
the  tunnel  trains. 

Second — It  must  i)e  rejnembcred  that  ninety  per  cent 
of  the  freight  the  railroads  carry  has  to  pass  through  the 
car  door,  and  that  everything  which  passes  through  the 
freight  car  door  can  be  taken  through  these  tunnels. 
Next  it  becomes  important  that  the  standard  car  adopted 
should  go  into  the  basements  of  an}^  building  without 
cost  of  alteration  to  the  property  holders,  if  they  are  to 
receive  freight  through  the  tunnels. 

The  tunnels  are  equipped  with  a  No.  56  rail,  laid  in  a 
concrete  roadbed  and  cast-iron  chairs,  without  ties, 
over  which  steel  cars,  each  having  a  capacity  of  seven 
tons  of  coal,  or  twenty-four  barrels  of  flour  or  sugar,  may 
be  transferred  by  electric  locomotives,  having  a  capacity 
of  8,000  pounds,  draw  bar  pull. 


106 


T  h  c     C  h  i  ca  g  o 


Electrical     Handbook  107 

The  connections  with  buildings  where  freight  is  to  be 
received  and  delivered  is  made  by  means  of  an  elevator 
on  which  the  cars  are  run  and  then  elevated  to  the 
basements  of  the  buildings  from  the  leA'el  of  the  tunnel. 
The  same  method  is  to  be  adopted  with  many  of  the 
railroad  terminals,  while  other  railroad  terminal  connec- 
tions will  be  throvigh  an  incline  with  a  nine  per  cent 
grade,  where  the  rack  system,  used  by  railroads  in  moun- 
tainous countries,  will  be  used.  There  is  a  difference  in 
the  system,  however,  in  that  the  cogwheel  used  on  this 
rack  system  will  transmit  the  electric  current  from  the 
rack  to  the  electric  locomotives.  The  trains  will  run 
direct  from  the  tunnel  up  the  incline  to  the  railroad 
yards  and  transfer  freight  from  the  railroad  cars  across 
the  platform  to  the  cars  of  the  tunnel  company. 

But  very  few  of  the  buildings  of  Chicago  have  been 
built  on  pile  or  caisson  foundations,  but  since  these 
tunnels  have  been  built  the  leading  architects  of  the 
city  have  directed  their  attention  to  designing  all  new 
buildings  so  that  they  will  go  down  to  the  floor  level  of 
the  tunnels.  This  lower  space  is  to  be  used  as  sub- 
basements  or  undergroimd  freight  yards  for  the  build- 
ings. As  new  buildings  are  being  constructed  at  the 
present  time,  one  of  the  very  practical  uses  to  which  the 
tunnel  system  may  be  put  is  being  daily  demonstrated. 
In  the  making  of  excavations,  instead  of  lifting  the  earth 
to  the  street  and  carrying  it  away  in  wagons  to  the  dis- 
comfort of  all  pedestrians  in  the  vicinity,  the  soil  is  being 
passed  down  into  the  tunnel,  loaded  into  the  electric  cars 
and  transferred  through  an  incline  shaft  to  the  Lake 
Front,  where  it  is  used  to  fill  in  the  new  Grant  Park.  A 
moment's  consideration  of  this  feature  will  satisfy  any 
one  of  the  great  advantage  to  be  obtained.  Not  only 
is  a  great  public  improvement  materially  assisted,  but 
the  streets  are  relieved  of  the  unsightlmess,  the  dirt  and 
the  disorder  usually  attending  a  considerable  work  of 
excavation.  Another  most  important  feature  of  this 
character  is  that  comprehended  in  the  carrying  of  coal. 
In  1902  there  were  delivered  by  horse  power  in  Chicago 


108  The     Chicago 

8,000,000  tons  of  coal,  most  of  it  bituminous  and  all  of 
the  deliveries  attended  by  the  discomfort  incident  to 
the  carriage  of  such  freight  through  the  streets.  With 
the  old  trucking  system  but  one  day's  supply  was  deliv- 
ered to  the  big  office  buildings,  and,  as  is  well  known, 
the  streets  are  frequently  choked  by  the  coal  traffic  alone. 
Under  the  tunnel  system  this  will  all  be  done  awav  with, 
the  coal  will  be  delivered  underground,  the  ashes  will  be 
removed  in  the  same  wa}%  and  the  health  of  the  munic- 
ipality subserved  bj'  the  removal  of  much  of  the  dirt  and 
dust  unavoidably  connected  with  such  deliveries.  On 
the  score  of  economy  alone  this  method  of  transporta- 
tion will  appeal  to  the  owners  of  buildings,  for  the  coal 
will  be  delivered  direct  to  the  furnaces  and  the  ashes 
taken  away  with  the  minimum  cost  for  handling. 

In  Chicago  approximately  100,000  tons  of  freight  are 
handled  daily.  It  will  he  put  underground  in  a  manner 
that  is  at  once  economical  to  the  merchant  and  satis- 
factory to  the  pedestrian.  Already  the  newspapers  are 
editorializing  upon  the  relief  to  be  effected  when  the 
system  is  in  complete  operation.  There  is  a  cry  against 
the  ear-splitting  and  nerve-racking  hul)bub  which  envel- 
opes the  business  district  throughout  the  day.  Heavy 
trucks  upon  cobblestone  pavements  are  a  prolific  source 
of  racket,  and  so  long  as  they  remain  upon  the  surface 
will  continue  to  be  a  nuisance.  This  nuisance  the  under- 
ground tunnel  system  of  the  Illinois  Tminel  Company 
■wnll  eliminate.  And  the  system,  capable  of  an  expansion 
which  can  hardly  be  dreamed  of  at  this  time,  wiU  do 
more  towards  the  relief  from  congestion  and  noise  and 
dirt.  It  will  enable  the  railroads  to  move  their  freight 
terminals  to  the  limits  of  the  city,  affording  them  oppor- 
tunity to  utilize  the  present  terminals  for  passenger  and 
express  service,  the  freight  being  brought  to  the  dis- 
tributing center  underground.  It  will  practically  solve 
the  smoke  problem,  for  with  the  changing  conditions,  the 
railroads  entering  the  business  districts  will  eventually 
do  away  with  the  steam  locomotive,  that  most  fruitful 
source  of  smoke,  and  substitute  electric  motive  power. 


Electrical     Handbook  109 

Better  suburban  service  will  be  provided,  and  with  the 
streets  cleared  of  traffic  wagons,  the  dust  and  dirt  and 
smoke  largely  abated,  the  unsightly  functions  of  com- 
mercialism transacted  beneath  the  surface,  Chicago  will 
present  a  new  aspect  and  become  a  city  celebrated  for 
its  cleanliness  and  beauty,  as  it  is  now  famous  for  its 
grime  and  street  congestion.  And  all  of  this  will  tend 
to  increase  commercial  activity,  because  the  business  of 
transportation  will  be  conducted  at  the  minimum  cost, 
without  delay  and  without  the  annoying  features  with 
which  it  is  now  attended. 

With  the  longest  tunnel  system  in  the  world,  with  a 
plan  of  operation  which  will  relieve  the  streets  of  traffic 
congestion,  with  a  telephone  system  which  assures  abso- 
lute secret  service  and  instant  conimunication,  the  Illi- 
nois Tunnel  Company  stands  before  the  world  to-day 
as  the  most  remarkaljle  of  the  public  service  corporations. 


The  Aurora,   lili^iii   and  Chicago 
Railway 

The  al)o\e  roatl,  one  of  the  first  iiigli-spetHl,  third-rail 
iiiter-urhan  lines  installed  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
runs  from  the  52d  avenue  terminus  of  the  Metropolitan 
Elevated  Road  on  the  West  Side,  in  a  southwesterly 
direction  to  Aurora,  37  miles  distant,  passing  through  a 
number  of  Chicago's  important  suburbs  and  furnishing 
a  high-speed  service  in  competition  with  the  Chicago  & 
North-Westeru  steam  road. 

The  road  is  double  track  from  Chicago  to  Wheaton, 
about  20  miles,  where  it  divides,  one  branch  running 
northwest  to  Elgin,  another  to  Aurora,  and  still  another 
to  Batavia,  35  miles  west  of  Chicago,  where  the  Power 
House  is  located.  The  ser\ice  is  furnished  by  three 
1 ,500-kilowatt,  25-cycle.  engine-driven  alternators  at 
2,300  volts  three-phase.  The  current  is  stepped  up  to 
26,000  volts  and  distributed  from  six  rotary  stations. 
Each  car  is  ecjuipped  with  four  125-horse-power  motors, 
with  the  multiple  system  of  control.  The  motors  are 
geared  for  a  speed  of  65  miles  per  hour,  which  is  fre- 
quently attained. 

The  company  owns  its  right  of  way,  and  as  the  country 
through  which  the  road  rvms  is  very  level  and  curves 
are  few,  the  conditions  are  ideal  for  high  speed.  The 
track  is  laid  with  100-lb.  rail.  Tiie  schedule  time  is  33 
miles  per  hour,  and  trains  run  every  quarter  hour  during 
the  busy  hours  of  the  day,  with  a  thirty-minute  service 
during  the  remainder  of  the  time. 

The  unprotected  third  rail  has  not  been  fovmd  to 
cause  any  trouble,  even  in  the  most  severe  winter 
weather. 


Ill 


CHICAGO  TELEPHONE 
COMPANY 


114 


The    Chicago 


MAIN    OFFICE,    CHICAGO    TELEPHOXE    COMPAXY. 


The   Chicago    TelepJione   Company 

The  Chicago  Telephone  Company  has  been  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years  furnishing  telephone  service  in  the 
City  of  Chicago  and  the  surrounding  territory  embraced 
within  a  radius  of  about  forty  miles,  and  is  operating 
at  this  time  a  total  of  104,000  telephones,  of  which 
82,000  are  in  the  Chicago  city  exchange,  the  remainder 
being  operated  in  about  150  suburban  exchanges.  In 
the  outside  territory  the  service  is  furnished  by  means 
of  equipment  which  is  modern  in  every  respect,  metallic 
circuits,  relay  common  battery  switchboards  and  mod- 
ern apparatus  being  used  throughout.  Toll  lines  extend 
throughout  the  territory  in  every  direction,  and  in  the 
country  surrounding  nearly  all  of  the  exchanges  farmers' 
lines  have  been  developed,  furnishing  not  only  a  neigh- 
borhood service  between  the  farmers  and  nearby  villages 
and  towns  but  direct  toll  line  service  to  Chicago  and  to 
the  entire  country  by  means  of  the  long  distance  lines  of 
the  American  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company. 

The  exchange  in  the  City  of  Chicago  has  always  pre- 
sented most  interesting  problems  to  telephone  engineers 
and  operating  men.  For  more  than  twenty  years  it  has 
been  recorded  of  it  that  more  service  per  instrument  is 
furnished  than  in  any  other  exchange  in  the  world.  In 
Chicago  the  telephone  is  availed  of  constantly  during 
the  business  hours  of  the  day  by  the  busiest  of  Chicago's 
business  men,  and  is  found  ready  at  his  hand  as  an  indis- 
pensable article  of  desk  furniture.  Records  have  been 
made  of  telephones  in  business  places  which  have  been 
used  more  than  300  times  in  one  day.  This  pressure  of 
traffic  at  an  early  date  brought  out  features  in  the  service 
which  have  since  been  found  indispensable,  not  only  in 
Chicago,  but  in  the  large  exchanges  throughout  the 
world.  The  first  private  branch  exchange  was  estab- 
115 


116 


The     Chicago 


A     I.AKCii;     l'lil\  AIK     I.Xi   IlANi.l.     HciAKD 


^it^-9 


0a>  'fj—  ^jg. 


TERMINAL    ROOM 


Electrical     Handbook  117 

lished  to  fit  the  pefuliar  requirements  of  a  large  and  busy 
manufacturiufi;  establishment  in  Chicago.  To-day  there 
are  more  than  1 ,200  private  branch  exchange  switch- 
boards in  business  places,  one  establishment  requiring 
the  service  of  thirteen  trained  operators  to  handle  its 
business.  Electric  lights  as  signals  on  telephone  lines 
were  first  used  in  Chicago,  and  the  development  which 
has  led  to  their  general  introduction  in  all  large  exchanges 
was  started  by  their  use  in  several  of  the  Chicago  Ex- 
change offices.  The  so-called  automatic  ringing  was  first 
used  in  a  downtown  Chicago  office  and  has  since  been 
generally  used  throughout  the  country  where  inter-office 
ir unking  is  necessary. 

The  general  introduction  of  underground  conduits 
began  in  Chicago  in  1890,  and  has  continued  steadily 
each  year  until  at  the  present  time  the  Company  is 
operating  235.36  miles  of  underground  condviit,  com- 
prising 1,372.28  miles  of  duct.  The  wire  in  under- 
ground cables  at  this  time  aggregates  149,233.68  miles, 
and  of  aerial  wires  in  the  Chicago  Exchange  40,480.05 
miles.  In  the  downtown  district  the  telephone  wires 
operated  by  the  Company  are  buried  throughout.  Cables 
are  led  from  the  exchange  offices  through  the  under- 
ground condviits  and  directly  to  the  buildings  or  par- 
ticular business  blocks  to  be  reached.  In  the  large 
buildings,  direct  cable  terminals  are  established  in  base- 
ment rooms  near  the  elevator  or  wire  shafts  which  have 
been  provided.  Distribution  is  made  by  lead-covered 
cable  to  terminal  boxes  on  each  floor  of  the  building  and 
thence  by  individual  wire  led  in  behind  moldings 
extended  throughout  the  halls,  so  that  in  this  way  any 
particular  office  or  room  may  be  reached,  the  wiring 
being  concealed  throughout  its  entire  length.  Behind 
these  moldings  and  in  the  underground  runs,  low  tension 
wires  only  are  provided  for,  it  being  arranged  that  elec- 
tric lighting,  power  or  other  high  tension  wires  are  sep- 
arated from  them  at  all  points.  The  standard  of  200 
pairs  for  underground  cables  was  adopted  in  1893,  which 
has  since  been  increased  to  300  pairs  and  400  pairs  for 


118 


The     C h i c a  a o 


TYPICAL    POWER    PLANT 


OPKRATORS    AT    LUNCHEON 


Electrical     Handbook 


119 


certain  portions  of  the  business  district,  all  insulation 
being  of  paper  encased  with  the  usual  lead  cover.  In 
the  outlying  districts  the  distribution  of  wires  to  the 
premises  of  subscribers  is  accomplished  by  means  of  pole 
lines,  built  in  alleys.  Undergrovmd  cables  are  led 
directly  to  terminal  boxes  located  upon  poles  in  such 
lines,  distribution  being  made  by  overhead  wire  for  a 
distance  of  one  or  two  blocks  in  either  direction,  so-called 


TYPICAL    SUB-EXCHANGE    BUILDING 


"drop  wires"  extending  from  these  poles  to  the  rear  of 
the  residence  or  place  of  business  to  be  reached.  There 
are  very  few  pole  lines  located  in  the  streets.  The 
territory  of  the  Chicago  Exchange  being  about  eighteen 
miles  long  by  six  miles  wide,  many  long  lines  in  the  out- 
lying portions  were  inevitably  involved.  This  territory 
is  now  covered  by  fourteen  sub-exchange  districts. 

In  1894,  a  four-party  line  service  was  introduced  for 
the  accommodation  of  private  residences,  a  system  of 


120 


The     Chicago 


non-interfering  signaling  being  provided  which  has  con- 
tinued to  meet  successfully  all  requirements  in  this 
respect. 

By  ordinance  requirements  in  1889  the  rates  for  service 
in  tlie  Chicago  Exchange  were  based  on  an  annual  sum 

for  which  the  sub- 
scriber might  use 
the  telephone  to 
any  extent  de- 
sired. Later  on 
the  requirements 
of  very  heavy 
users  necessitated 
private  branch  ex- 
change systems, 
and  the  require- 
ments of  private 
residences  were 
such  that  one  cir- 
cuit might  readily 
accommodate  a 
number  of  sub- 
scribers, which 
m  a  d  e  variations 
in  this  plan  inevi- 
table. The  injus- 
tice of  this  so- 
called  flat  rate 
plan  continued  to 
be  more  and  more 
apparent.  The 
very  small  busi- 
ness user  under  it 
must  of  necessity 
pay  just  as  much  as  the  greatest.  The  storekeeper  who 
used  his  telephone  five  times  a  day  paid  just  as  much  as 
one  whose  use  might  be  fifty  or  more  calls.  Measured 
rates  were  introduced  in  1896,  and  immediately  these 
were  adopted  to  a  large  extent.     It  was  not,  however. 


Electrical     II  a  n  dbook 


121 


until  1900,  when  the  measured  service  plan  was  intro- 
duced upon  what  is  known  as  tlie  "nickel"  basis,  that  the 
Chicago  Exchange  took  on  a  tremendous  growth,  which 
has  since  continued.  Upon  this  plan  the  user  of  the  tele- 
phone pays  for  the  service  at  the  time  it  is  rendered, 
depositing  a  nickel  or  5c  piece  in  the  coin  box  provided  for 
that  purpose.  Upon  tliis  plan  service  is  furni.slied,  not 
only  upon  direct  lines  but  in  private  exchanges,  two- 
party  and  four-party  lines,  and  also,  for  very  small  users, 
upon  ten-party  lines.  In  tlie  latter  class  the  telephone 
is  installed  in  a  residence  upon  a  guarantee  by  the  sub- 
scriber tliat  the  earnings  shall  not  be  less  than  5c  per 


5UB-EXCHANGE     1XTF:RI0R 


day  or  in  a  place  of  business  10c  per  day.  Nearly  50,000 
telephones  are  now  operated  in  Chicago  on  the  nickel 
plan,  and  it  is  used  by  all  classes  of  customers.  The 
ten-party  lines  are  separated  from  the  general  body  of 
exchange  lines  and  operated  on  special  switchboards  so 
that  they  may  not  in  any  way  delay  the  general  service 
of  the  exchange,  other  classes  of  service  being  operated 
in  the  usual  manner,  the  type  of  coin  box  making  it 
possible  to  accomplisli  this  without  retarding  the  service. 
Twelve  of  tlie  fourteen  Cliicago  Excliange  offices  are 
operated  in  buildings  owned  l)y  the  Company,  the  two 
remaining  lieing  pro^•ided  for  by  perpetual  leasehold  in 


122 


The     Chicago 


fireproof  office  buildings.  Relay  multiple  switchboards, 
accompanied  by  the  usual  storage  battery  and  power 
plants,  are  operated  in  all  of  the  offices,  the  system  of 
trunking  for  intercommunication  comprising  a  total  of 
3,658  trunks  or  junction  circuits. 

In  the  territory  outside  of  the  Chicago  Exchange  the 
Company  owns  eleven  buildings  in  which  its  switch- 
boards are  operated. 

The  annual  statistics  for  the  past  ten  years,  showing 


r                           l^R-P^"^' 

kss*^ 

^^^■P**^^            .Jr  i-   ^^^ 

MAIN    OFFICE    INTERIOR 


in  a  general  way  the  growth  of  the  Company's  business, 
are  indicated  in  the  following  table. 

The  entire  plant  of  the  Chicago  Company,  including 
cables,  switchboards  and  instruments,  is  now  of  the  most 
modern  class.  Its  efficiency  is  attested  in  the  very  large 
amount  of  traffic  successfully  handled.  The  engineering 
plans  of  the  Company  are  based  on  an  ultimate  capacity 
for  250,000  telephones,  and  the  widespread  and  increasing 
use  of  the  service  makes  it  appear  not  unlikely  that  this 
number  may  be  reached  even  earlier  than  has  been  antic- 
pated. 


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V 

ELECTRICAL  MANUFACTURES 


IVe stern   Electric   Company 

The  observer  of  large  and  powerful  machinery  marvels 
at  the  manufacturing  establishment  which  is  able  to 
turn  out  such  apparatus  in  the  ordinary  course  of  its 
business.  The  observer  of  the  small  telephone  instru- 
ment or  of  the  inter-communicating  exchange  equip- 
ment marvels  perhaps  at  the  engineering  and  the  delicacy 
of  the  mechanism,  but  seldom  realizes  the  present  magni- 
tude of  establishments  manufacturing  such  compara- 
tively small  devices.  And  yet  a  consideration  of  the 
development  of  the  telephone  for  commercial  use  and 
the  present  enormous  extent  of  the  telephone  systems 
of  this  and  foreign  countries,  where  standardization  of 
equipment  is  so  important  an  element,  points  at  once  to 
the  necessity  for  concentration  of  this  work  in  the  hands 
of  large  manufacturers. 

In  1869,  in  a  little  shop  on  the  top  floor  of  what  is  now 
an  old  and  dilapidated  building  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
Elisha  Gray  and  Enos  M.  Barton  set  up  a  small  instru- 
ment shop  and  this  became  the  seed  from  which  has 
grown  the  Western  Electric  Company.  The  firm  of 
Gray  and  Barton,  manufacturers  of  annunciators,  tele- 
graph instrmnents,  and  handling  a  small  electrical  repair 
business,  moved  the  following  year  to  Chicago  and 
established  themselves  in  an  unpretentious  shop  in  the 
center  of  town  on  La  Salle  street,  performing  the  same 
line  of  work  that  they  had  done  in  Cleveland.  Moving 
to  State  street  the  following  year,  they  escaped  the  big 
Chicago  fire  of  1871,  but  when  the  city  was  rebuilt,  they 
set  up  again  on  Kinzie  street  near  State  street.  In  this 
shop  they  began  the  manufacture  of  telephone  instru- 
ments for  commercial  operation,  as  well  as  extending 
their  telegraph  instrument  manufacture,  and  becoming 
affiliated  with  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company, 
127 


128  The     Chicago 

incorporated  themselves  under  the  name  of  the  Western 
Electric  Manufacturing  Company.  Later,  when  a 
closer  relationship  developed  with  the  American  Bell 
Telephone  Company,  then  in  its  infancy,  the  company 
again  reorganized  under  the  name  of  Western  Electric 
Company,  of  which  Mr.  Barton  of  the  original  firm  of 
Gray  and  Barton  is  now  President. 

While  most  of  the  large  electrical  manufacturers  have 
established  their  works  in  small  country  towns  or  sub- 
urban places,  it  naturally  followed  that  the  Western 
Electric  Company,  from  its  start  a  city  concern,  should 
have  its  growth  in  the  city,  and  when  in  1883  the  Kinzie 
street  shop  of  the  Company  became  inadequate,  a  new 
building  was  erected  on  South  Clinton  street.  It  is  a 
notable  fact,  as  showing  the  possible  success  of  city 
factories,  that  to-day  with  twenty-two  establishments 
in  various  parts  of  the  world,  and  with  eight  of  those 
establishments  manufacturing,  all  are  located  in  large 
commercial  centers. 

Since  its  very  beginning,  the  growth  of  the  Compan}- 
has  kept  step  with  the  development  and  popular  useful- 
ness of  the  telephone;  in  addition  to  its  telephone  busi- 
ness, it  has  successfully  taken  up  the  manufacture  of 
power  and  lighting  apparatus,  and  has  also  carried  on  a 
jobl^ing  business  in  electrical  supplies,  which  is  to-day 
the  largest  in  America. 

It  is  to  the  telephone  business,  however,  that  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  Company  is  to  be  attributed.  As  sole 
manufacturer  for  the  American  Bell  Telephone  Com- 
pany's interests,  its  shops  have  always  been  filled  with 
telephone  work.  A  glance  at  the  American  Telephone 
and  Telegraph  Company  statement  of  operations  for 
April,  1904,  indicates  something  of  the  demands  made 
upon  the  manufacturing  company  supplying  the  entire 
equipment.  The  total  number  of  outstanding  instru- 
ments on  that  date  was  over  4,000,000,  an  increase  of 
approximately  one  quarter  of  a  million  over  the  previous 
3'ear,  while  five  years  before  the  system  had  1,125,000 
instruments  outstanding  and  ten  years  before  less   than 


Electrical     Ha  n  d  b  o  o  k  1  '^D 

600,000,  an  increase  in  five  years  amounting  to  nearly 
300  per  cent  and  in  ten  years  to  nearly  600  per  cent. 

This  evident  success  of  the  American  Bell  system  can 
be  attributed  in  a  degree  to  the  superiority  of  workman- 
ship in  the  Western  Electric  factories,  a  superiority 
which  has  been  achieved  and  is  maintained  largely  by 
the  extensive  inspection  methods  employed.  The  influ- 
ence of  the  factory  inspector  is  felt  everywhere.  The 
workman  realizes  that  his  product  will  be  rejected  if  not 
up  to  standard;  the  foreman  is  continually  reminded 
that  he  must  maintain  the  high  quality  of  his  output. 
The  factories  are  literally  policed  by  inspectors  who 
stand  for  the  superiority  of  the  product  and  the  rights  of 
customers. 

To  guarantee  the  quality  of  the  apparatus,  the  inspec- 
tion begins  with  the  receipt  of  the  raw  material,  every 
particular  class  of  material  being  tested  vmder  specifica- 
tions issued  in  advance  from  the  engineering  depart- 
ments, and  each  lot  of  material  receiving  the  approval 
of  the  chief  inspector  before  it  becomes  a  part  of  the 
general  stock. 

All  machines  on  which  raw  material  is  to  be  worked 
are  set  up  by  expert  machinists,  and  sample  products  are 
gauged  and  inspected  by  the  department  inspector  before 
the  work  is  actually  begun.  The  inspector  exercises 
such  a  supervision  over  the  work  as  may  be  needed  to 
guard  against  faults  and  he  may  order  the  complete  out- 
put held  for  his  final  approval  if  that  seems  desirable  or 
necessary. 

When  manufactured  parts  are  finished  by  any  depart- 
ment, the  foreman  turns  them  into  the  combination 
Counting  and  Inspection  Department,  which  keeps  a 
card  record  of  special  instructions  for  each  kind  of  piece 
made.  Under  this  inspection,  the  pieces  are  counted, 
sorted  and  all  that  are  perfect  are  credited  to  the  fore- 
man and  turned  into  the  piece  parts  stockroom.  In  the 
assembhng  of  parts,  the  various  operations  are  followed 
by  the  necessary  tests  and  accurate  gauges  are  used  in 
making  adjustments;   when  the  apparatus  is  completed, 


130  The     C  h  icay  o 

it  is  delivered  to  the  Department  of  Final  Inspection, 
where  each  piece  is  inspected,  gauged,  tested  and  in  some 
cases  specially  adjusted.  This  final  inspection  is  sup- 
posed to  be  as  critical  as  is  practicable  to  apply  to  the 
thousands  of  pieces  of  apparatus  turned  out  daily,  and 
on  the  approval  of  this  inspection,  apparatus  is  placed 
in  stock. 

As  a  further  check  to  insure  care  in  manufacture,  as 
well  as  to  test  the  reliability  and  durability  of  the  output, 
an  Engineering  Inspection  Department  is  maintained. 
This  department,  provided  with  complete  files  of  draw- 
ings and  specifications  and  accurate  testing  devices,  as 
well  as  with  a  knowledge  of  the  requirements  and  use  of 
the  apparatus,  inspects  complete  installations,  investi- 
gates complaints,  and  studies,  both  in  the  laboratory 
and  in  the  systems  of  customers,  the  effect  of  wear  and 
of  service  conditions.  The  engineering  inspection  puts 
a  check  on  the  entire  series  of  routine  inspections.  It 
watches  the  lists  of  apparatus  approved  by  the  Depart- 
ment of  Final  Inspection,  and  continually  draws  from 
stock  various  types  of  apparatus  supposedly  ready  for 
shipment  to  customers.  The  inspection  of  this  stock 
material  is  of  the  most  searching  character;  tests,  gauges 
and  wearing  processes  are  devised  to  show  failure,  unre- 
liability or  inefficiency  in  service.  Each  type  of  appa- 
ratus is  taken  apart  or  worn  out  for  the  purpose  of  devel- 
oping any  possible  weakness,  inconvenience  or  inaccessi- 
bility of  parts,  or  concealed  faults.  Any  unsatisfactory 
workmanship  is  noted  and  in  case  of  discovery  of  actual 
defects,  the  entire  supply  may  be  ordered  back  into  the 
shop  for  repairs  and  re-inspection.  This  high  efficiency 
in  the  inspection  work  is  one  of  the  secrets  of  success  in 
manufacturing  which  has  carried  the  Western  Electric 
product  into  all  the  markets  of  the  world. 

But  it  is  not  the  purpose  to  dwell  upon  the  telephone 
apparatus  or  the  telephone  installations  of  the  Western 
Electric  Company,  nor  to  tell  of  its  output  of  power  and 
lighting  apparatus  which  is  scattered  throughout  the 
states,  nor  to  point  to  the  acknowledged  efficiency  of  that 


Electrical     Handbook  1 S 1 

portion  of  the  business  coverinji;  tlie  distribution  of  sup- 
plies. The  development  of  electrical  engineering  and 
the  growth  of  the  demands  made  upon  manufacturers 
have  been  so  rapid  that  few  have  found  tlie  time  to 
devote  to  the  perfection  of  factories;  on  this  account 
the  perfected  factories  of  the  Western  Electric  Com- 
pany are  of  special  interest. 

In  erectyig  the  buildings,  it  has  always  been  the  policy 
of  the  Western  Electric  Company  to  use  tlie  best  material 
and  construction.  At  the  time  the  first  buildings  were 
erected  on  South  Clinton  street  in  1883,  the  interior 
construction  was  with  cast-iron  columns  and  iron  girders, 
steel  beams  not  being  made  at  tliat  time.  Wooden  joists 
were  used,  with  double  floors  of  pine  and  maple.  As 
additions  were  made  to  the  buildings,  the  construction 
was  improved,  and  the  next  step  was  the  use  of  mill 
construction.  Then  came  the  use  of  flitch  beams,  these 
beams  resting  on  iron  girders  and  being  composed  of 
channel  irons  with  small  joists  between,  to  serve  as  a 
nailing  for  the  floors.  In  1896,  when  further  buildings 
were  erected,  fireproof  construction  was  used  throughout, 
and  when  metallic  window  frames  and  wire-glass  came 
into  vogue,  this  construction  was  adopted,  and  in  some 
cases,  in  order  to  reduce  the  fire  risk,  all  of  the  woodwork 
used  in  sections  devoted  to  office  use  was  rendered  fire- 
proof by  a  patented  process.  All  of  the  buildings  re- 
cently erected  have  been  of  the  highest  class  of  fireproof 
construction,  all  elevators  and  stairways  being  enclosed 
within  brick  walls,  sprinkler  systems  installed  throughout 
and  every  precaution  taken  against  loss  of  life  by  numer- 
ous fire  escapes  and  fireproof  liridges  connecting  buildings. 
There  are  at  present  three  separate  works  of  the 
Western  Electric  Company  in  Chicago.  One  of  these 
occupies  nearly  all  of  the  two  blocks  bovmded  by  Clinton, 
Van  Buren,  Jefferson  and  Harrison  streets;  another 
located  at  Polk  street  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Chicago 
river,  and  at  third,  the  erection  of  which  is  now  about 
complete,  at  Hawthorne,  five  miles  west  of  the  center 
of  Chicago. 


IS^Z  The     Chicago 

The  Clinton  street  works,  which  represents  a  gradual 
growth  on  property  acquired  from  time  to  time  as  more 
space  was  needed,  and  W'hich  represents  an  assembly 
of  buildings  rather  than  a  carefully  designed  and  united 
whole,  consists  of  twenty-four  separate  structures,  nearly 
all  of  which  are  of  solid  fireproof  construction  and  con- 
nected by  bridges  and  subways.  There  are  915,037 
square  feet  or  more  than  twenty-one  acres  of  floor  space 
available  for  manufacturing  and  office  use;  in  this  plant 
alone,  are  employed  between  four  thousand  and  five  thou- 
sand men  and  women.  The  electrical  equipment  con- 
sists of  seven  generating  units  of  Western  Electric 
manufacture,  with  a  capacity  of  over  2,500  kilowatts  for 
factory  use.  There  are  about  325  telephone  stations, 
which,  in  combination  with  the  thoroughly  modern  tele- 
phone exchange,  connect  all  buildings  and  departments. 

On  the  eighth  floor  of  one  group  of  these  buildings  are 
arranged  the  offices,  many  of  them  rich  in  their  appoint- 
ments and  all  designed  for  economy  in  the  routine  of 
office  work. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  Clinton 
street  plant  is  its  system  for  fire  protection.  At  the 
pumping  station,  which  is  amply  protected  against  falling 
buildings,  there  are  two  1,500-gallon  pumps,  discharging 
under  a  pressure  of  100  pounds  into  eleven  street  hydrants, 
and  into  nineteen  6-inch  standpipes,  which  extend  from 
basement  to  roof  at  each  principal  stairway  and  which 
have  fifty  feet  of  2J-inch  hose  at  each  floor  with  2i-inch 
connections  at  the  roof;  liciuid  fire  extinguishers,  sand 
buckets  and  water  pails  are  well  distributed  over  the 
entire  plant.  The  private  fire  alarm  system  consists  of 
136  boxes,  a  box  being  located  upon  each  floor  at  each 
stairway  and  connecting  directly  with  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment headquarters,  where  is  located  the  switchboard 
arranged  both  to  register  all  fire  alarm  calls  and  give  notice 
of  the  action  of  the  sprinkler  system  at  any  particular  sec- 
tion of  the  plant.  For  protection  at  night  there  are  111 
watch  service  boxes,  so  distributed  through  the  factory 
that   a   registration   is   made   by   watchmen   every   two 


E  led  V  i  c  a  I    II  a  n  d  h  o  o  k 


183 


^  \» 


134  The     Chicago 

minutes  from  5:30  P.  M.  to  7:30  A.  M.  The  entire 
factory  is  equipped  with  automatic  sprinklers,  receiving 
water  direct  from  headers  supplied  from  pumps  and  from 
high  pressure  and  gravity  tanks  located  upon  the  roofs  of 
the  different  buildings.  The  fire  station  is  a  two-story 
brick  building,  similar  in  design  to  the  standard  fire 
engine  house.  Upon  the  second  floor  are  beds  for  a 
captain  and  nine  men,  with  abundant  lavatory  and 
locker  facilities.  A  pole  connects  with  the  floor  below. 
The  fire  house  equipment  consists  of  two  hose  carts,  each 
carrying  500  feet  of  hose,  extra  nozzles,  ladders,  pike 
poles,  axes,  tarpaulins  and  all  connections  for  a  2  J  and  3^- 
inch  hose.  The  day  force  of  the  Fire  Department  consists 
of  one  chief,  two  assistants  and  sixteen  men,  all  of  the 
latter  being  employed  in  a  department  adjacent  to  the 
fire  station.  The  night  force  consists  of  the  chief,  one 
assi.stant  and  sixteen  men,  these  men  comprising  the 
force  of  night  watchmen,  eight  of  whom  are  patrolling 
the  factory  while  the  other  eight  are  stationed  in  the 
fire  house.  The  fire  brigade  is  given  each  week  a  prac- 
tice drill,  and  in  case  no  fire  alarm  is  turned  in,  a  false 
alarm  is  given  at  least  once  a  week  for  a  practice  run. 
A  systematic  cour.se  of  instruction  as  to  the  proper  use 
of  apparatus  in  case  of  fire  is  given  periodically  to  a  large 
number  of  employees,  some  being  selected  from  each 
department  for  this  purpose. 

The  Polk  street  plant,  which  at  present  is  devoted  to 
the  manufacture  of  lead-coAered  telephone  cables  and 
to  warehouse  purposes,  covers  220,000  square  feet  of 
ground  and  has  railroad  and  dock  facilities.  This  is  the 
most  complete  cable  factory  in  the  West,  but  as  all  the 
work  carried  on  there  is  about  to  be  transferred  to  Haw- 
thorne, where  superior  facilities  have  been  provided, 
and  the  vacant  space  devoted  to  storage  of  material,  the 
construction  and  description  of  buildings  will  not  be 
given. 

Early  in  the  year  1903  the  Company  commenced  the 
erection  of  a  new  plant  now  known  as  "Hawthorne 
Works,"  on  property  acquired  in  tlie  southwest  portion 


13()  The     C  h  i  c  ago 

of  the  city,  bounded  by  22d  street  on  the  north,  South 
48th  avenue  on  the  west,  the  Chicago,  Buriington  & 
Quincy  Railway  and  26th  street  on  the  south,  and  44th 
court  on  the  east,  the  area  being  about  125  acres  and 
divided  nearly  in  the  center,  north  and  south,  by  the 
Belt  Railway.  To  this  point  will  be  moved  first  the 
large  machinery  business  of  the  Company  which  is  at 
present  located  at  the  Clinton  street  plant,  second,  the 
cable  work  now  done  at  Polk  street,  and  in  addition  a 
factory  has  been  made  ready  for  the  manufacture  of 
insulating  material.  Occupancy  will  commence  some 
time  in  October  or  November  of  this  year.  The  build- 
ings erected  consist  of  foundry,  machine  shop,  black- 
smith shop,  pattern  shop,  pattern  storage,  office  build- 
ing, gas  plant,  water  tower,  piunp  house  and  power 
plant— all  west  of  the  Belt  Railway,  and  a  group  of  one- 
story  buildings  for  the  manufacture  of  telephone  and 
power  lead-covered  cable,  insulating  material  and  wood 
working,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Belt  Railway.  Pro- 
vision has  been  made  for  future  expansion  in  all  lines  of 
work,  the  present  construction  work  being  carried  out 
under  a  general  plan  providing  for  some  fifty  buildings. 

There  are  ample  railway  facilities,  including  connec- 
tions with  the  Belt  Line,  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy, 
Chicago  Terminal  Transfer  and  Illinois  Central  railroads. 
A  general  system  of  underground  tunnels  in  connection 
with  sub-ways  under  the  Belt  Railway  permits  of  the 
easy  transfer  of  material  and  distribution  of  pipe,  cable 
and  intercommunicating  equipment  from  one  part  of 
the  plant  to  another. 

Water  for  general  use  is  raised  l)y  means  of  compressed 
air  from  deep  wells.  A  large  excavation  has  been  made 
to  retain  this  water  in  reserve. 

The  foundr}%  the  first  building  in  the  group,  is  located 
on  48th  avenue.  It  is  of  standard  steel  construction, 
about  400  feet  long  and  175  feet  wide,  and  is  divided  into 
three  sections.  The  center  section  has  a  span  of  about 
72  feet  and  is  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  heavy 
castings.     The  west  side  is  for  light  work,  and  the  east 


Electrical     Handbook  VM 

contains  sand  bins,  a  cliarging  floor,  core  ovens  and  pro- 
vision for  flask  making  and  pattern  storage.  Coke  is 
delivered  direct  from  the  cars  into  a  brick  enclosure 
which  is  outside  of  the  east  wall,  and  all  material  is  carried 
to  the  charging  floor  upon  an  elevator  in  suitable  cars 
provided  for  that  purpose.  Tlie  cupola  capacity  is 
thirty  tons  per  hour.  Blast  is  provided  from  positive 
pressure  blowers,  direct  connected  to  motors  mounted 
upon  the  same  bed  plate.  The  foundry  equipment  con- 
sists of  two  4-motor  30-ton  cranes,  one  15-ton  crane,  a 
complete  system  of  industrial  tracks  for  distribution  of 
material,  friction-driven  tumbling  mills  with  dust  ex- 
haust, crucible  furnaces  for  brass,  and  air  furnaces  for 
semi-steel.  Heat  and  ventilation  are  cared  for  by  the 
general  hot-blast  system.  Toilet  rooms  containing 
shower  baths  are  provided  for  the  use  of  the  foundrymen. 
The  machine  shop,  directly  east  of  the  north  end  of  the 
foundry,  is  of  the  standard  one-.story  steel  construction 
type,  about  825  feet  long  and  150  feet  wide.  The  center 
span  of  75  feet  and  the  north  span  of  50  feet  are  designed 
for  the  use  of  traveling  cranes,  while  the  south  section  of 
25  feet  has  an  intermediate  floor  or  gallery  for  light  work, 
and  on  this  side  are  three  two-story  wings,  50  feet  by  60 
feet,  in  which  are  located  toilet  rooms,  elevators  and 
heating  apparatus.  These  wings  are  so  designed  that 
they  may  with  ease  be  connected  with  a  second  machine 
shop,  a  duplicate  of  the  one  now  erected,  which  may  at 
fome  time  be  put  up  parallel  to  and  south  of  the  present 
sliop.  An  abundance  of  light  is  furnished  from  sky- 
lights in  the  tile  roof  and  from  windows  in  the  south  and 
end  walls.  The  general  ilkmiination  is  from  arc  lights, 
while  incandescent  lamps  are  used  for  bench  work. 
Blast  apparatus  supplies  heat  to  the  upper  parts  of  the 
building  and  direct  radiation  is  given  from  coils  upon 
the  walls  under  the  windows.  Broad-gauged  tracks 
cross  both  east  and  west  ends  of  the  building,  on  which 
castings  may  be  brought  from  the  foundry,  an  industrial 
railway  for  lighter  work  connecting  with  pattern  shop, 
pattern  storage  building,  foundry  and  blacksmith  shop. 


138  The     Chicago 

All  heavy  niachines  used  in  this  shop  are  direct  connected 
to  individual  motors,  and  speed  control  is  obtained  elec- 
trically by  means  of  the  Western  Electric  three-wire 
system.  At  the  west  end  of  the  building  there  is  a  cast- 
iron  testing  floor  120  feet  long,  and  at  the  east  end  a 
similar  floor  for  testing  generators  and  motors.  The 
shipping  platform  is  at  the  rear  railway  track,  east  of 
this  testing  floor. 

The  blacksmith  shop,  separated  from  the  machine  shop 
at  the  north  only  by  a  system  of  railway  tracks,  is  200 
feet  long  and  76  feet  wide  and  is  18  feet  high  to  the  lower 
chord  of  the  roof  truss.  The  building  is  of  brick,  with 
a  roof  of  Ludowicic  tile,  having  a  monitor  extending  the 
full  length  of  building,  containing  swinging  windows  and 
a  wire-glass  top.  Oil  is  used  for  fuel  with  which  to  heat 
the  furnaces.  A  complete  exhaust  system  provides  am- 
ple A'entilation,  and  heat  is  obtained  by  direct  radiation 
from  coils  upon  the  walls.  The  toilet  rooms  contain 
shower  baths  for  the  use  of  the  men. 

The  office,  pattern  shop  and  pattern  storage  buildings 
are  located  on  48th  avenue  just  north  of  the  foundry 
and  are  of  standard  fireproof  oflfice  building  construction, 
about  fifty  feet  wide,  and  are  so  designed  as  to  be  avail- 
aljle  for  general  manufacture  when  it  becomes  necessary 
to  make  a  change  at  that  point  in  order  to  provide  for 
future  expansion.  The  office  building  contains  rooms 
for  draughting  and  blueprinting  and  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  shop  clerical  departments.  All  machines 
in  the  pattern  shop  are  driven  by  motors  directly 
applied. 

The  gas  plant,  consisting  of  one  building  and  one 
holder,  is  north  of  the  machine  shop  just  east  of  the 
pattern  shop.  This  plant  furni.shes  450,000  cubic  feet 
of  uncarbureted  water  gas  in  a  day  of  ten  hours,  the 
apparatus  consisting  of  two  generators,  two  washers,  a 
scrubber,  purifier  and  oxide  conveyor,  blowers,  motors 
and  the  necessary  pipe  connections.  Provision  has  been 
made,  not  only  for  future  growth,  but  also  for  changing 
to  the  manufacture  of  carbureted  water  gas,  should  Jt 


Electrical     Handbook  180 

become  necessary  at  some  future  time.  The  gas  pro- 
duced is  used  to  furnish  heat  only. 

The  water  tower  is  of  ornamental  design  of  brick, 
about  50  feet  square  and  175  feet  high  to  the  top  of  the 
Ludowicic  tile  roof.  Steel  tanks  are  placed  at  different 
levels  in  this  tower,  to  contain  water  for  fire  protection 
and  for  shop  service.  The  fire  station  and  pumping 
plant,  proA'iding  a  high  pressure  system  for  fire  protec- 
tion, are  located  in  a  brick  building  south  of  and  con- 
nected  with  this  tower. 

The  power  plant  is  adjacent  to  and  directly  north  of 
the  east  end  of  the  machine  shop,  the  boiler  house  being 
in  the  north  portion.  Provision  has  been  made  for  two 
brick  chimneys,  each  with  a  flue  12  feet  in  diameter, 
250  feet  high  from  the  ground,  although  but  one  of  these 
chimneys,  connecting  with  eight  boilers,  has  as  yet  been 
erected.  Each  chimney  is  designed  to  take  care  of  4,000 
horse-power  of  horizontal  water  tube  boilers  equipped 
with  chain  grate  stokers.  The  center  line  of  the  boiler 
room  runs  east  and  west  between  the  two  chimneys. 
Coal  is  delivered  to  the  power  house  direct  from  cars 
into  steel  bunkers  above,  at  the  center  of  the  building, 
and  is  fed  through  chutes  to  the  grates  below,  the  ashes 
being  collected  in  a  pit  in  the  basement  and  carried 
away  in  cars  designed  for  that  purpose,  so  that  from  the 
time  the  coal  leaves  the  mines  until  it  leaves  the  plant 
as  ashes,  it  is  never  handled  except  by  machinery.  The 
boilers  are  designed  to  receive  super-heaters  and  carry 
steam  at  150  pounds  pressure.  A  broad-gauged  track 
enters  the  east  end  of  the  engine  room  and  delivers 
material  under  a  20-ton,  4-motor  traveling  crane.  The 
power  equipment,  a  part  of  which  only  is  now  in  place, 
consists  of  two  horizontal  engines  of  500  and  750 
horse-power  and  two  vertical  engines  of  1,500  h.orse- 
power  each,  all  direct  connected  to  Western  Elec- 
tric 250-volt  direct-current  generators,  the  current 
being  controlled  from  a  switchboard  consisting  of  eighteen 
30-inch  panels  located  in  the  gallery  on  the  north  wall 
of  the  engine  room.     Centrifugal  pumps  deliver  water 


140  T  h  e     Chicago 

from  the  reservoir  to  three  surface  condensers.  Cooling 
towers  are  to  be  installed  at  the  water  reservoir.  Small 
lighting  units,  air  compressors  and  other  auxiliary 
apparatus,  together  with  the  condensers,  are  located  in  a 
room  below  and  between  the  engine  room  and  the 
machine  shop.  Compensator  sets  are  placed  in  buildings 
of  the  plant  wherever  it  is  necessary  to  obtain  speed 
regulation  by  means  of  the  three-wire  system. 

For  the  yard  lighting,  alternating  current  is  used  in 
connection  with  Western  Electric  series  enclosed  arc 
lamps.  Exhaust  steam  from  the  power  plant  is  used  for 
the  general  heating  system. 

The  cable  plant,  ju.st  east  of  the  Belt  Railway,  con- 
tains approximately  182,000  square  feet  of  floor  space, 
the  buildings  being  of  one-story,  brick  and  steel  con- 
struction with  tile  roofs  and  north  exposed  skylights. 
All  material  is  received  at  the  east  end  of  the  plant  near 
45th  avenue,  where  a  track  enters  the  building,  and  the 
manufacturing  is  worked  west  to  the  shipping  platform 
near  the  Belt  Railway.  The  equipment  consists  of 
paper  insulating  machines,  wire  twisting  machines, 
stranders,  drying  ovens,  furnaces,  lead  presses,  high 
pressure  pumps  and  reeling  machines.  The  pressure 
delivered  by  the  lead  presses  in  the  cylinders  is  in 
some  instances  as  high  as  20  tons  per  square  inch. 
Practically  all  machines  are  driven  by  direct  connected 
motors  and  are  worked  on  the  three-wire,  variable  speed 
system.  Special  provision  is  made  for  the  convenience 
of  women  employees,  who  constitvite  a  large  percentage 
of  the  working  force  of  the  Cable  Department.  Toilet 
rooms,  wash  rooms,  lockers,  a  modern  hospital  33  feet 
by  22  feet,  a  dining-room  87  feet  by  49  feet  and  a  com- 
pletely equipped  kitchen  40  feet  by  16  feet  are  operated 
in  connection  with  the  cable  plant. 

The  insulating  material  shop  lies  between  the  cable 
plant  and  the  wood-working  shop,  the  latter  being  a 
small  building  about  100  feet  square.  The  wood-work- 
ing machinery,  complete  in  its  detail,  is  all  driven  by 
direct    connected   motors.      Svich    rough    wood-working 


Electrical     Handbook  141 

only  as  the  manufacture  of  cable  reels  and  packing 
boxes  is  to  be  performed  in  this  plant,  the  finer  work  be- 
ing confined  as  5'et  to  the  Clinton  street  works.  The  land 
south  of  this  group  of  buildings  and  east  of  the  Belt 
Line  is  now  used  for  the  storage  of  lumber. 

The  structural  detail  of  the  "Hawthorne  Works" 
represents  the  highest  and  most  advanced  state  of  the 
art,  and  it  is  expected  that,  when  the  plant  is  placed  in 
full  operation,  it  will  in  its  electrical  and  mechanical 
equipment  be  one  of  the  most  complete  in  America. 

But  the  Chicago  plants  are  not  the  only  manufacturing 
stations  of  the  Western  Electric  Comjjany  which  are  of 
interest.  The  factories  in  foreign  cities,  while  small  in 
comparison  with  the  works  of  Chicago  and  New  York, 
are  designed  and  managed  with  the  same  care  and  effi- 
ciency as  are  those  in  America. 

A  glance  at  the  New  York  factory  will  suffice  to 
show  that,  in  its  extension  beyond  Chicago,  the 
Western  Electric  Company  has  not  been  unmindful 
of  the  benefits  and  economies  resulting  from  efficient 
factory  construction  and  organization.  In  1896  the 
Company  moved  from  a  building  which  it  owned  and 
occupied  on  Thames  street  just  off  Broadway,  and  began 
the  erection  of  a  system  of  buildings  on  West  and  Bethune 
streets  directly  opposite  the  docks  of  the  White  Star 
Line,  and  at  that  point  there  are  to-day  employed  over 
4,000  men.  From  the  New  York  factory  the  output  is 
almost  entirely  fine  work,  such  as  instruments,  tele- 
phone receivers,  transmitters  and  bells,  the  only  coarse 
work  being  the  making  of  lead-covered  cables;  the  cable 
output,  however,  is  only  large  enough  to  take  care  of 
certain  business  in  the  East  which  it  is  not  conAcnient  to 
handle  from  Chicago. 

This  factory  was  planned  in  its  entirety  before  con- 
struction was  begun,  so  that  as  it  now  stands  it  is  a  con- 
sistent and  homogeneous  arrangement  of  sliops,  with 
none  of  the  disadvantages  which  necessarily  exist  in 
such  a  plant  as  the  Clinton  Street  Works  in  Chicago,  which 
have   greatly   outgrown    tlieir   original    plans    and    have 


U-2 


T  h  e    C  h  i  c  a  r/  o 


Electrical     Ha  n  dbuo  k  1 43 

been  enlarged  by  additions  and  extension.s.  The  general 
design  of  the  buildings  is  a  hollow  rectangle,  having 
a  solid  rectangular  court  about  150  feet  long,  which 
aids  in  admitting  light  to  the  shop  floors.  Structurally, 
the  building  is  of  the  most  appro\ed  fireproof  construc- 
tion, with  a  steel  framework  and  floors  supported 
throughout  on  l)rick  arches.  To  reduce  the  fire  risk,  the 
building  is  divided  into  four  parts  by  fire  walls  nnniing 
from  cellar  to  roof  and  extending  from  a  central  court  to 
the  four  fronts  of  the  building  and  cutting  each  floor  into 
four  sections,  the  ten  floors  of  the  shop  thus  being  divided 
into  forty  sections.  The  fire  walls  are  double,  and  con- 
tain between  them  the  elevators  and  stairways,  the 
openings  through  the  walls  Ijeing  provided  with  fire 
doors  with  fusible  links.  All  buildings  are  sprinkled 
automatically.  The  isolated  plant  which  supplies  elec- 
tric current  for  lighting  and  power  in  the  building, 
although  installed  some  years  ago,  is  still  one  of  the 
largest  independent  installations  in  New  York.  Current 
is  generated  and  distributed  entirely  on  a  two-wire,  120- 
volt  system,  this  voltage  Ijeing  adopted  on  account  of 
the  short  distance  from  plant  to  the  load.  The  buildings 
are  heated  by  means  of  hot  water,  which  is  in  turn  heated 
by  the  exhaust  steam  of  the  auxiliary  engines,  or  live 
steam  in  case  this  exhaust  is  not  sufficient.  All  water 
used  throughout  the  building  except  that  for  boiler  feed 
is  obtained  froin  artesian  wells  sunk  under  the  property. 
The  offices  cover  about  one-half  of  the  10th  floor  and  the 
whole  of  the  11th,  12th  and  13th  floors,  and  are  unusually 
elaborate. 

Within  the  past  five  years  the  Western  Electric  Com- 
pany has  rebuilt  its  plants  at  London,  Antwerp  and 
Berlin,  and  is  at  present  increasing  its  facilities  for 
foreign  manufacture.  In  American  cities  it  has  added 
steadily  to  the  number  of  its  selling  and  warehouse 
buildings,  and  aside  from  the  construction  work  now 
in  process  at  Chicago,  is  just  finishing  a  new  plant  at 
Philadelphia.  Over  67  acres  of  floor  space  are  now 
occupied  by  Western  Electric  houses. 


WATER   POWER  AND  ELECTRI- 
CAL   TRANSMISSION 


The  Sanitary  ami  Ship   Canal 

The  Sanitary  District  of  Chicago  is  organized  under 
the  general  law  for  the  creation  of  Sanitary  Districts 
enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  1889 
and  in  force  July  1st  of  that  year. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  was  elected  December  12, 
1889,  and  served,  barring  resignations,  until  December  2, 
1895.  Since  that  period  the  regular  term  of  service  has 
been  five  years. 

The  primary  object  of  tlie  work  undertaken  by  the 
Sanitary  District  is  the  protection  of  Lake  Michigan — 
the  great  reservoir  from  which  the  city  of  Chicago  and 
its  urban  and  suburl:)an  neighbors  draw  their  drinking 
water — from  sewage  pollution  due  to  the  discharge  di- 
rectly into  it,  or  into  the  rivers  which  empty  into  it,  of 
the  sewage  of  the  city  of  Chicago  and  its  aforesaid 
neighbors. 

The  first  work  undertaken  was  the  construction  of  a 
great  canal,  whose  characteristics  are  described  in  the 
body  of  this  report,  from  Robey  street  to  Lockport. 
That  done,  the  logical  sequence  was  the  improvement  of 
the  Chicago  river  by  deepening  and  widening  and  remov- 
ing bridge  obstructions  so  as  to  make  it  possible  to  secure 
an  adecjuate  flow  of  water  through  it  witiiout  injury  to 
navigation. 

While  the  Sanitary  District  of  Ciiicago  has  been  carry- 
ing on  its  great  work,  the  city  of  Chicago  has  been  revers- 
ing, wherever  practicable,  sewers  which  discharged  into 
the  lake  and  discharging  them  into  the  Chicago  river, 
and  by  building  on  39th  street,  from  the  lake  to  the  east 
end  of  the  Stock  Yards  Slip  at  Halsted  street,  a  conduit 
twenty  (20)  feet  in  diameter.  Along  Stony  Island  ave- 
nue and  the  Lake  Shore  from  73rd  street  north  to  39th 
street,  the  city  is  building  and  has  far  along  toward  com- 
147 


148  T  h  e     C  h  i ca  go 

pletion  an  intercepting  sewer,  increasing  progressively  in 
size  from  \2\  feet  in  diameter  at  the  south  end  to  16  feet 
at  the  north  end,  which  will  take  all  of  the  sewers  between 
73rd  street  and  39tli  street  which  now  discharge  into  the 
lake.  At  39th  street  the  city  is  constructing  four  sewage 
pumps,  two  having  each  a  capacity  of  75  cubic  feet  per 
second,  and  two  having  each  a  capacity  of  250  cubic 
feet  per  second.  These  pumps  are  to  be  operated  by  the 
Sanitary  District  of  Chicago,  and  the  said  District  will 
erect  as  a  part  of  tiie  same  plant  two  pumps  having  each 
a  capacity  of  667  cubic  feet  per  second  (40,000  cubic  feet 
each  per  minute),  to  pump  pure  lake  water.  The  total 
pumping  capacity  of  the  plant,  namely,  120,000  cubic 
feet  per  minute,  will  be  discharged  into  the  39th  street 
conduit,  from  whence  it  will  flow  on  through  the  south 
fork  of  the  south  branch  and  unite  with  the  flow  from 
Lake  Michigan  of  480,000  cubic  feet  per  minute,  and 
give  the  ultimate  flow  of  600,000  cubic  feet  per  minute 
through  the  main  channel  of  the  Sanitary  District. 

AVhat  has  been  described,  however,  does  not  embrace 
the  whole  problem  of  sewage  and  water  supply;  on  the 
south  there  is  a  large  urban  and  suburlian  population 
fouling  the  Calumet  river,  which  discharges  into  the  lake 
within  3|  miles  of  the  Hyde  Park  Four  Mile  Water  Sup- 
ply Crib;  on  the  north,  beyond  the  limits  of  the  original 
Sanitary  District,  still  other  urban  and  suburban  popu- 
lations are  discharging  their  sewage  into  the  lake. 

The  Legislature  of  1903  enacted  laws  for  the  annexation 
of  these  adjacent  territories.  On  July  14,  1903,  this  legis- 
lation became  operative,  and  the  original  Sanitary  Dis- 
trict, which  contained  185  square  miles,  was  enlarged  by 
the  annexation  of  the  North  Shore  District,  78  6-10  square 
miles,  and  the  Calumet  District,  94  48-100  square  miles, 
so  that  the  total  area  of  the  Sanitary  District  of  to-day 
is  358  8-100  square  miles.  The  topography  and  hydrog- 
raphy of  the  North  Shore  District  precludes  a  gravity 
channel,  and  therefore  it  is  proposed  to  cut  a  channel 
from  the  lake  at  .'^ome  point  north  of  Evanston  southward 
to    a    connection    witli    tlie    northern    extension    of    the 


Electrical     H  a  n  dbo  o  k  1 49 

Chicago  river  at  J>awrcMice  avenue.  The  water  to  How 
througli  tiiis  channel  must  he  suppHeu  ))y  pumping,  and 
a  plant  having  a  capacity  of  60, 000  cubic  feet  per  minute 
will  be  erected  near  the  lake  and  operated  1)}'  tiie  Sanitary 
District.  When  completed  thi.s  cliannel  will  become  the 
outlet  of  sewers.  Surveys  for  the  purpose  of  locating  the 
channel  liave  I)een  made. 

The  typograpliy  and'  hydrography  of  tlie  Calumet 
District  admit  of  treatment  that  will  secure  a  reversal  of 
the  current  of  the  Calumet  river  and  a  gravity  flow 
therefrom  into  the  main  channel  of  the  Saiutary  District 
through  the  depression  known  as  the  Sag  Valley.  Sur- 
veys have  been  made  and  a  channel  partially  located, 
which  will  accomplish  the  purpose  outlined  above.  The 
tentative  plans  for  this  channel  contemplate  tliat  its 
cross  section  shall  be  70  feet  wide  at  the  bottom  in  the 
earth  and  90  feet  wide  in  the  rock,  with  side  slopes  in  the 
earth  of  five  feet  in  three  feet  and  a  deptli  below  hydrau- 
lic grade  line  of  22  feet. 

The  work  of  the  Sanitary  District  has  created  valuable 
possibilities  in  the  way  of  water-power  development, 
and  the  same  Legislature  which  passed  the  annexation 
laws  enacted  a  law  which  enables  the  Sanitary  District 
to  realize  in  part  these  possibilities  by  giving  it  the 
authority  to  de\'elop  the  water  pow'er  at  Lockport. 
This  work  is  now  under  contract,  and  construction  is  in 
progress.  The  plans  for  it  provide  for  an  extension  of 
the  channel  now  in  use  between  concrete  walls  and  earth 
and  rock  emliankment  southward  for  a  distance  of  about 
10,700  feet  to  tlie  site  selected  for  the  erection  of  the 
power  plant.  From  this  point  on,  a  tail  race  is  to  be 
excavated  for  a  distance  of  about  6,800  feet  to  a  junction 
with  original  Section  17;  this  tail  race  is  to  be  160  feet 
wide,  and  be  deep  enough  to  afford  a  minimum  depth  of 
water  of  22  feet.  Section  17  is  a  wide  channel,  and  the 
minimum  depth  of  water  therein,  until  it  enters  the 
Upper  Basin  at  Joliet,  will  be  ten  feet.  The  mean  head 
for  power  development  resulting  from  this  improvement 
will  be  32  feet,  and  tiie  net  horse-power,  figured  on  an 


Electrical     II  a  ii  d  b  o  o  k  15 1 

efficiency  of  75  per  cent  aiui  a  fiow  of  (30(),()()0  cubic  feet 
per  minute,  will  be  27,000  hor.se-power.  The  power  is 
to  be  housed  in  a  structure  of  concrete  and  brick  con- 
struction and  will  have  ten  turbine  chambers,  three  for 
exciter  units  and  seven  for  power  luiits.  The  power 
units  are  designed  to  pass  100,000  cul:)ic  feet  at  8-10  dis- 
charge. They  consist  of  turbines  on  horizontal  axes, 
capable  of  generating  6,500  horse-power  at  full  gate 
under  34  feet  of  head  at  150  revolutions  per  minute. 
Each  power  unit  is  to  drive  one  3,750-kilowatt,  3-phase, 
2,200-volt  generator.  The  ultimate  discliarge  of  the 
channel  will,  under  present  plans,  reach  800,000  cubic 
feet  per  minute. 

This  outline  of  tlie  work  shows  that  its  primary  pur- 
pose is  sanitation,  and  that  in  attaining  that  vital  object 
it  provides  an  artificial  waterway  of  great  utility  and 
develops  water  power  of  inimcn.se  value.  Sanitation, 
navigation,  and  industrial  development  are  the  visible 
results  of  the  vast  expenditure  made  l)y  tlie  Sanitary 
Di.strict  of  Chicago. 

MAIN    CHANNEL 

The  Main  Drainage  Channel  of  tlie  Sanitary  District 
of  Chicago  is  now  completed  from  its  confluence  with  the 
?outli  branch  of  the  Chicago  river,  at  Robey  street,  in  the 
city  of  Chicago,  to  Lockport,  in  Will  County,  Illinois,  a 
distance  of  28.05  miles,  as  shown  upon  the  accompanying 
map.  Water  from  Lake  Michigan  was  let  into  the  main 
channel  via  the  Chicago  river,  and  through  the  auxiliary 
cliannel  which  connects  the  main  channel  with  the  west 
Fork  of  tlie  south  branch,  on  January  2,  1900.  It  took 
thirteen  days  to  fill  the  channel  from  Western  avenue 
to  the  Controlling  Works.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th 
of  January,  1900,  by  permission  of  the  Governor  of  tlie 
State  of  Illinois,  the  Bear  Trap  Dam  was  lowered  and 
the  w-estw'ard  flow  of  water  from  the  lake  was  com- 
menced. At  the  end  of  Section  15  of  the  channel  the 
Controlling  Works  are  located.  Beyond  tlie.se  works 
the  construction  completed  by  the  District  covered  the 


15^2 


T  It  c    C  h  i  c  a  g  o 


Electrical     H  a  ii  d  b  o  o  k  I  .>.S 

work  necessary  for  coiHluctiii';'  tlic  How  from  (lie  cliaiiiu'l 
in  conjvniction  with  tlic  waters  of  the  Desphiines  river 
down  the  declivity  to  and  througli  the  city  of  Joliet, 
and  the  making  of  such  changes  in  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  Canal  as  \\\o  now  coiulitions  developed  rendered 
necessary. 

The  first  work  pvit  uiuler  contract  extended  south- 
westerly from  the  Willow  Springs  road,  and  these  sec- 
tions were  numbered  consecutively  Numbers  1  to  14. 
Average  length  of  sections,  nearly  one  mile.  Easterly 
from  Willow  Springs  road  tlie  sections  are  lettered  from 
A  to  O,  omitting  J.  The  lettered  sections  are,  except 
for  a  short  distance  near  Summit,  entirely  in  glacial  drift, 
defined  in  the  specifications  thus:  "Glacial  drift  sliall 
comprise  the  top  soil,  eartii,  muck,  sand,  gravel,  clay, 
hard  pan,  boulders,  fragmentary  rock  displaced  from 
its  original  bed  and  any  other  material  that  overlies  tlie 
bed  rock.  " 

The  sections  from  1  to  14  were  put  under  contract  in 
July,  1892;  those  from  A  to  F  were  put  under  contract 
late  in  1892  and  early  in  1893;  and  those  from  G  to  M, 
inclusive,  were  contracted  for  in  December,  1893.  Sec- 
tions N  and  O  were  put  under  contract  May  2d,  and 
Section  15,  August  27th,  1,S94. 

Earth  was  first  broken  on  "Shovel  Day,"  Septeml)cr 
3,  1892,  on  the  rock  cut  below  Lemont. 

The  Desplaines  Valley  is  traversed  by  the  river  from 
which  it  takes  its  name — a  stream  of  wide  fluctuations, 
with  no  constant  and  reliable  fountain  supply.  During 
some  seasons  its  whole  discharge  would  pass  through  a 
six-inch  pipe,  and  at  otliers  its  volume  reaches  800,000 
cubic  feet  per  minute.  Then  it  rolls  majestically  along, 
flooding  the  whole  valley.  Sucli  being  the  situation, 
control  of  this  stream  was  a  condition  precedent  to  the 
successful  prosecution  of  the  work  upon  tiie  main 
channel.  This  control  has  been  secured  by  the  outlay 
of  $1,000,186  (exclusive  of  bridges)  in  constructing  what 
is  known  as  the  "River  Diversion  Channel." 

About  thirteen  miles  of  new  river  channel  liad  to  bg 


154 


The    Chicago 


E I  e  c  t  r  i  <■  (I  I     II  (t  II  d  b  o  o  k  1 55 

excavated,  paralU'l  witli  the  location  of  the  main  uraiiiage 
channel,  and  about  nineteen  inilefs  of  levee  built  to  di- 
vorce the  waters  of  the  Desplaines  watershed  from  the 
ciianncl  whicli  is  to  receive  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan 
and  pass  them  on  to  tlie  Mississippi  river  via  the  lower 
Desplaines  and  tlie  Ilhnois  rivers.  The  width  of  the 
River  Diversion  Channel  on  the  bottom  is  200  feet,  side 
slopes  one  and  one-lialf  to  one,  grade  generally  12-100 
per  1,000  feet. 

At  the  head  of  this  River  Diversion  it  was  necessary 
to  provide  a  safety  valve  in  the  form  of  a  spillway,  to 
allow  surplus  water  to  flow  toward  Chicago,  pending  the 
completion  of  the  work  necessary  for  carrying  the  entire 
flood  waters  of  the  Desplaines  through  Joliet. 

This  spillway  is  a  concrete  dam  capped  with  cut  stone, 
and  its  wings  faced  with  stone  masonry;  it  is  397  feet 
long  and  its  crest  is  16.25  feet  above  Chicago  datum 
(this  datum  is  referred  to  the  low  water  of  Lake  Michigan 
of  1S47,  and  is  579.61  feet  above  sea  level  at  Sandy 
Hook).  No  water  flows  over  this  spillway  until  the 
water  passing  the  water  gauge  above  it  reaches  300,000 
cul)ic  feet  per  miinute. 

The  cross-secton  of  tlie  earth  sections  from  A  to  E 
inclusive,  a  distance  of  5.3  miles,  is  202  feet  on  the  bot- 
tom, side  slopes  two  to  one.  This  .section  extends  for 
about  500  feet  into  the  west  end  of  F  and  then  reduces 
to  110  feet  on  the  bottom,  preserving  the  same  side 
slopes  for  a  distance  of  7.S  miles.  The  explanation  for 
this  change  of  cro.ss-section  is  as  follows:  Throughout 
the  rock  sections,  and  those  sections  in  which  there  is  a 
preponderant e  of  hard  material,  or  where  rock  may 
appear,  the  section  adopted  is  designed  according  to  law 
for  a  flow  of  600,000  cubic  feet  of  water  per  minute, 
which  means  provision  for  a  population  of  3,000,000 
people.  The  narrower  channel  provides  for  the  flow  of 
300,000  cubic  feet  per  minute,  or  for  al)Out  the  present 
population  of  Chicago.  The  enlargement  of  tlie  narrow 
channel  can  be  made  by  the  easier  methods  of  excavation, 
such  as  dredging,  whenever  the  needs  of  the  city  require 


156  The     Chicago 

it.  The  grade  througliout  tlie  lettered  sections  is  one 
foot  in  40,000  (.025  per  1,000  feet)  and  the  bottom  of  the 
Channel  at  Robey  street  is  24.448  feet  below  datum. 
The  numbered  sections,  from  \o.  1  to  No.  6  inclusive, 
are  underlaid  with  solid  rock.  The  width  of  the  bottom, 
in  rock,  is  160  feet,  and  walls  of  masonry  laid  in  cement 
have  been  bviilt  upon  the  rock  surface  to  a  height  of  five 
feet  above  datum.  Sections  7  to  14,  inclusive,  are  in 
solid  rock,  widtli  at  bottom  160  feet,  sides  vertical, 
prism  taken  out  in  three  stopes  with  offsets  of  six 
inches  on  each  side  for  each  cut,  making  top  width 
162  feet;  grade  in  rock,  one  foot  in  20,000  (.05  per  1,000 
feet). 

Section  Xo.  15  is  also  in  rock  and  its  cross-section  is 
enlarged  at  its  south  end  so  as  to  form  a  "windage  basin," 
in  which  large  vessels  may  be  turned  around.  The  Con- 
trolling Works  are  located  on  this  section.  The.se  works 
consist  of  gates  and  a  movable  dam  by  which  the  flow  of 
water  from  the  main  channel  into  the  tail  race,  which 
is  to  deliver  the  outflow  into  the  Desplaines  river,  can  be 
controlled. 

This  river  below  Lockport  follows  the  trough  of  the 
valley  down  a  steep  declivity  to  the  canal  basin  in  Joliet. 
The  fluctuations  in  Lake  Michigan,  by  varying  slope  of 
water  surface,  will  be  felt  at  the  controlling  works,  and 
provisions  have  been  made  to  meet  these  fluctuations 
within  a  range  of  five  feet  above  datum  and  twelve  feet 
below,  or  an  extreme  oscillation  of  seventeen  feet.  The 
fall  from  datum  at  the  Controlling  Works  to  the  level  of 
the  upper  basin  is  about  forty-two  feet,  in  a  distance  of 
about  four  and  one-third  miles. 

The  Controlling  Works  comprise  seven  sluice  gates  of 
metal,  with  the  necessary  masonr}'  bulk  heads  and  one 
bear-trap  dam.  The  ^sluice  gates  maj'  be  considered  as  a 
modification  of  what  is  known  as  the  Stoney  gate  type, 
gates  having  a  vertical  play  of  twenty  feet  and  openings 
of  thirty  feet  each.  The  bear-trap  dam  has  an  opening  of 
160  feet  and  an  oscillation  of  seventeen  feet  vertically. 
This  dam  is  essentiallv  two  erreat  metal  leaves  hinged  to- 


.  \  -     ' 


.•^ 


'  -■  f*^4y 


Electrical     Handbook  157 

gether  and  working  Ijetween  masonry  bulk  heads.  The 
down-stream  leaf  is  securely  hinged  to  a  ^'ery  heavy 
foundation,  and  the  up-stream  leaf  is  so  placed  as  to 
present  the  harrier  to  the  water.  This  structure  is  oper- 
ated by  admitting  water  through  properly  constructed 
conduits,  controlled  by  valves,  beneath  the  leaves  just 
described.  To  raise  the  crest  of  the  dam,  water  is 
admitted  from  the  up-stream  side  and  the  discharge 
shut  ofT  until  the  desired  height  is  obtained,  and  then  the 
valves  are  adjusted  so  that  the  vohime  of  water  beneath 
the  leaves  shall  be  constant.  To  lower  the  crest,  the 
water  beneath  the  leaves  is  drawn  off  until  the  desired 
heiglit  is  reached,  when  the  valves  are  again  arranged 
so  as  to  maintain  a  constant  volume  of  water. 

All  the  bridges  on  the  main  cliannel  are  movable 
structures.  There  are  six  bridges  for  public  highways. 
One  was  built  for  the  use  of  the  Southwest  Boulevard  and 
Western  avenue.  It  has  double  roadways — one  being 
for  heavy  and  the  other  for  light  traffic.  There  are  seven 
railway  bridges,  one  being  an  eight-track  rolling  lift 
structure,  with  a  channel  span  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
feet.  One  is  a  four-track  swing  bridge,  and  the  others 
are  double-track  structures.  The  bridges  on  the  walled 
and  .«olid  rock  sections  of  the  channel  are  all  "bob-tailed" 
(or  have  arms  of  unequal  length),  counter-weighted 
structures,  with  pivot  piers  on  the  right  bank,  and  long 
arms  spanning  the  entire  channel,  thus  avoiding  any 
obstruction  to  the  flow  from  center  and  protection  piers. 
These  bridges  are  of  latest  design,  conforming  to  the 
heaviest  modern  specifications.  The  entire  weight  of 
the  iron  and  steel  used  in  tlieir  construction  was  22,862,- 
454  pounds. 

The  work  of  the  District  .'•outli  of  the  Controlling 
Works  consisted  of  straightening,  widening  and  deepening 
the  Desplaines  river,  to  give  it  a  flowage  capacity  of 
1 ,500,000  cubic  feet  of  water  per  minute.  This  involved, 
in  the  city  of  Joliet,  the  rebuilding  of  Dam  No.  1,  the 
removal  of  Dam  No.  2  (both  structures  belonging  to  the 
Illinois   and   Michigan   Canal),   anil   the   removal  of  the 


158 


T  h  c    C  h  i  c  a  (j  o 


Electrical      II  a  n  d  b  o  o  k  1 .59 

Adam  dam,  tlie  rebuilding  of  Lock  No.  5,  and  the 
removal  of  the  Guard  Lock.  At  Jefferson  .street,  the 
stone-arched  bridge  has  been  removed  to  make  way  for 
a  steel  bridge  of  greater  span  and  width,  equal  to  that  of 
the  street.  The  Cass  street  bridge  also  gave  place  to 
a  modern  steel  structure  of  greater  span  and  width. 
From  Lock  No.  5  to  Jefferson  street  a  massive  concrete 
wall  has  been  constructed  to  separate  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  Canal  from  the  river,  and  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river  a  concrete  wall  has  been  constructed,  extending 
from  Cass  street  to  JefTerson  street.  At  Jackson  street 
a  great  deal  of  costly  excavation  has  been  made  to  admit 
of  an  extensive  water  power  development,  which  is  the 
property  of  the  State. 

The  total  amount  of  excavation  involved  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  main  channel  is  26,693,000  cubic  yards  of 
glacial  drift  and  12,265,000  cubic  yards  of  solid  rock,  or  an 
aggregate  of  38,958,000  cubic  yards,  to  which  must  be 
added  the  material  excavated  from  the  River  Diversion; 
glacial  drift,  1,810,652  cubic  yards;  solid  rock,  258,659 
cubic  yards;  total  River  Diversion,  2,069,311.  The 
work  between  Lockport  and  Joliet,  including  the  Con- 
trolling Works,  involves  1,201,724  cubic  yards  of  excava- 
tion; grand  total  main  channel.  River  Diversion  and 
Joliet  Project,  42,229,035  cul)ic  yards.  All  of  this  work 
is  now  completed  and  in  addition  thereto  457,777  cubic 
yards  of  retaining  wall  and  bridge  masonry.  The  retain- 
ing wall  is  all  laid  in  cement  mortar.  The  rock  when 
broken  up  expands  about  80  per  cent,  and  therefore  the 
volume  of  the  rock  spoil  banks  will  be  nearly  22,542,586 
cubic  yards.  The  whole  volume  of  spoil  (earth  and  rock), 
if  deposited  in  Lake  Michigan  in  forty  feet  of  water,  would 
make  an  island  one  mile  stjuare,  with  its  surface  twelve 
feet  above  the  water  line.  In  addition  to  these  quan- 
tities the  work  of  the  main  Cliannel  extension  and  water 
power  development  involves  105,000  cul)ic  yards  of  earth, 
1,274,000  cubic  yards  of  rock  and  145,000  cubic  yards  of 
masonry  and  concrete. 


160  The     Chicago 

CHICAGO    RIVER 

The  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago  river  to 
Robey  street  (the  junction  of  the  artificial  channel  of 
the  Sanitary  District  of  Chicago  with  the  west  fork  of 
the  south  branch  of  the  Chicago  river)  is  six  miles.  From 
Lake  street  to  Robey  street  the  channel  is  to  be  widened 
to  200  feet  and  given  a  depth  of  26  feet  for  a  mid-channel 
width  of  100  feet,  shallowing  up  to  16  feet  at  the  dock 
lines.  The  standard  docks  are  of  timber  secured  to 
anchor  piles  38  feet  back  from  the  dock  face.  The  Board 
of  Trustees  has  authorized  the  construction  of  a  concrete 
dock  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  extending  from  Ran- 
dolph street  to  Madison  street,  and  it  is  now  in  process  of 
construction. 

Much  work  has  been  accomplished  in  executing  the 
plans  of  the  District  for  river  improvement.  Up  to  the 
31st  of  December,  1903,  488,650  square  feet  of  land  has 
been  acquired  for  widening,  nearly  all  of  which  has  been 
excavated  liy  dredging  and  the  frontage  docked.  The 
dredging  thus  far  aggregates  2,935,691  cubic  yards  and 
the  docking  10,822  lineal  feet.  Seven  bascule  bridges 
have  been  completed,  one  of  which  is  a  double-track  rail- 
way bridge  of  275  feet  span  between  points  of  support. 
Two  others  are  now  under  contract  and  plans  are  author- 
ized and  in  process  of  preparation  for  four  more.  The 
bridge  at  Ashland  avenue  is  a  trunnion  ba.scule,  of  a 
type  invented  by  John  W.  Page;  all  of  the  others  are 
of  the  Scherzer  Rolling  Lift  type. 

DIMENSIONS  AND    COST   OF   CHANNEL 

The  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago  river  to 
the  junction  of  the  main  channel  with  the  west  fork  of 
the  south  branch  at  Robey  street  is  about  six  miles. 

The  length  of  the  main  channel  proper,  from  Robey 
street  to  the  Controlling  Works  at  Lockport,  is  28.05 
miles — making  a  total  of  34.05  miles. 

The  dimensions  of  the  channel  are:  Robey  street  to 
Summit,  7.8  miles;    110  feet  wide  at  bottom;    198  feet  at 


Elect  r  i  c  a  I     H  a  n  d  book  1  (i  1 

water  line,  with  miniinuni  depth  of  water  22  feet.  Sum- 
mit to  Willow  Springs,  5.3  miles;  202  feet  wide  at  bottom, 
290  feet  wide  at  water  line,  with  22  feet  deptli  of  water; 
grade  of  eartJi  channel  one  foot  in  forty  tiiousand  feet,  or 
If  inches  per  mile.  Tlie  side  slopes  in  eartii  are  one  foot 
vertical  to  two  feet  horizontal.  At  Willow  Springs  the 
channel  narrows  to  the  walled  and  rock  cross-section, 
extending  14.95  miles  to  Lockport,  160  feet  wide  at 
bottom,  162  feet  at  top;  grade  in  rock  one  foot  in  twenty 
thousand,  or  3^  inches  per  mile. 

The  velocity  in  earth  is  figured  for  1  \  miles  per  hour 
and  in  rock  1.9  miles  per  hour.  For  talile  of  costs,  see 
page  162. 

METHODS   OF   WORKING 

On  the  earth  sections  some  novelties  were  introduced. 
On  sections  L  and  M,  cars,  specially  constructed,  were 
loaded  by  steam  shovels  and  drawn  by  steam  lioists  up  a 
steep  incline  to  a  proper  height,  where  they  ran  on  to  a 
tipple  and  were  automatically  dumped.  Each  incline 
was  equipped  with  two  four-yard  cars,  which  loaded  and 
dumped  alternately.  On  sections  I  and  K,  the  contract- 
ors erected  bridges  spanning  the  spoil  bank  at  proper 
height,  their  supporting  piers  being  carried  on  trucks 
which  traveled  on  tracks  parallel  with  tlie  cliannel. 
From  the  channel  end  of  the  bridge,  an  inclined  track 
ran  down  into  the  cut.  In  connection  with  this  device 
two  eight-yard  cars  were  used,  which  were  successively 
loaded  by  steam  shovel,  drawn  up  the  incline  on  to  the 
bridge  by  steam  hoist,  and  then  automatically  dumped 
and  immediately  returned  to  the  pit.  An  output  of  100 
j'ards  per  hour  was  probably  sustained  liy  tliis  combina- 
tion of  devices. 

On  Section  H,  a  conveying  machine,  designed  by 
Messrs.  Hoover  &  Mason,  was  constructed  on  a  mam- 
motli  scale.  It  was  essentially  a  bridge,  spanning  ihe 
channel,  with  cantilever  arms  projecting  far  enough 
beyond  on  each  side  to  overhang  the  spoil  area.  On  this 
structure  were  mounted  the  necessary  sprocket  wheels 


162 


The     Chicago 


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and  other  machinery  for  carrying  a  series  of  steel  pans 
which  form  tlie  conveyor  belt.  The  structure  was  640 
feet  from  end  to  end,  mounted  on  trucks  traveling  upon 
tracks  parallel  witli  the  cliannel,  and  its  capacity  was 
500  cubic  yards  per  hour.  This  capacity,  however,  was 
that  of  the  conveyor  only;  the  arrangements  for  excavat- 
ing the  earth  and  loading  the  conveyor  were  ne\er  per- 
fected to  an  extent  which  secured  recognition  for  the 
device  as  one  of  the  successful  inventions  applicable  to 
great  public  works.  On  Section  F  the  material  was 
taken  from  the  steam  shovel  by  cars  fitted  with  pneu- 
matic dumping  apparatus,  the  power  for  which  was 
supplied  from  the  loconiotive.  The  engineer  operated 
these  dumps  just  as  he  would  apply  the  air  brakes. 
Sections  A,  B  and  a  portion  of  C  are  located  in  the  old 
channel  of  the  Desplaines  river,  and  were  overlaid  with 
muck  to  a  considerable  depth.  This  muck  was  removed 
by  hydraulic  dredges.  Each  of  these  dredges  has  a 
capacity  of  about  2,500  cubic  yards  in  ten  hours,  and 
this  output  in  solid  matter  represents  about  eight  per 
cent  of  the  capacity  of  the  pumps.  One  great  advantage 
of  the  hydraulic  method  of  remo\al  is  that  the  material 
can  be  removed  to  any  desired  dmnping  ground  within  a 
distance  of  3,000  feet  without  adding  anything  to  the 
contract  price  of  the  excavation. 

On  those  sections  which  are  partly  in  eartli  and  partly 
in  rock,  all  of  the  usual  methods  of  removing  earth  were 
employed,  varied  to  suit  peculiar  conditions  or  to  meet  the 
ideas  of  the  contractors  doing  the  work.  On  section  No. 
6  a  large  amount  of  muck  had  to  be  removed,  and  a  very 
ingenious  contractor  improvised  a  hydraulic  dredge  at  a 
small  cost,  and  did  tlie  work  at  a  very  moderate  expense. 

On  the  rock  sections  the  sides  were  cut  down  vertically 
by  channeling  machines,  and  the  merits  of  several  devices 
were  satisfactorily  demonstrated  on  this  work.  Of 
course,  steam  drills  were  used,  and  on  tlie  sections  which 
were  best  planted  these  were  worked  from  a  central  power 
station  by  compressed  air.  Tlie  top  lifts  were  removed 
bv  the  use  of  carts  and  tramcars,  tlie  traction  for  which 


Electrical     II  a  n  d  I)  o  o  k  1  (j.5 

latter  was  usually  supplied  l)y  .steaiii-lioisting  engines. 
The  lower  lifts  were  taken  out  by  the  use  of  cal)le-ways, 
high  power  derricks  and  cantilever  conveyors. 

The  cable-ways  as  first  constructed  were  not  very 
successful,  but  experience  gained  upon  this  work  resulted 
in  improvements  from  time  to  time,  until  by  the  adoption 
of  a  simple  improvement,  devised  by  Mr.  H.  C.  Locher, 
one  of  the  contractors,  they  were  brought  to  a  stage  of 
efficiency  which  made  them  worthy  competitors  of  the 
cantilever  conveyors.  The  high  power  derricks  used 
upon  two  of  the  sections  did  not  come  up  to  the  expecta- 
tions of  the  builders,  and  their  use  was  confined  to  the 
machines  already  in  place.  The  revolving  derricks  on 
Section  14,  after  a  great  deal  of  costly  experimentation, 
developed  considerable  merit.  The  cantilevers  are 
probably  the  most  perfect  devices  now  known  for  hoisting 
and  disposing  of  material  from  rock  cuttings  such  as  these. 

The  average  daily  output  of  rock  for  the  month  of 
June,  1895,  reached  21,365  cubic  yards,  requiring  the 
use  of  eight  tons  of  dynamite. 

Although  all  of  the  bridges  on  this  channel  are  movable 
structures,  yet  the  law  allows  the  District  to  keep  them 
closed  and  operated  as  fixed  structures  for  a  period  of 
seven  years  dating  from  January  17,  1900.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  period  they  must  be  equipped  with 
operating  machinery  and  go  into  service  as  movable 
bridges,  and  then  this  channel  will  be  a  free  water-way, 
navigable  for  any  craft  drawing  less  than  twenty-two  feet 
of  water.  The  work  performed  by  this  District  consti- 
tutes nearly  two-thirds  of  the  entire  cost  of  creating  a 
channel  from  Chicago  to  the  Mississippi,  which  would  be 
navigable  for  the  largest  boats  which  will  be  able  to  ply 
between  St.  Louis  and  New  Orleans,  after  the  present 
plans  for  the  improvement  of  the  Mississippi  will  have 
been  completed.  The  creation  of  such  a  channel  seems 
to  be  inevitable;  a  commercial  necessity  sooner  or  later 
to  be  recognized  and  undertaken  by  the  general  govern- 
ment, which  must  carry  out  the  enterprise,  if  it  is  ever 
executed. 


SOME    INTERESTING    APPLICA- 
TIONS   OF    ELECTRICAL 
POWER 


Bndgcporf  Piniipiiicr  Station 

AN    ELECTRIC    PUMPING    PLANT    PROVIDING    PART   OF 
THE   POWER  TO  DRIVE   ITSELF 

The  above  pumping  station  is  located  in  tlie  south- 
western part  of  Chicago,  on  the  south  branch  of  the 
Chicago  river,  near  Archer  avenue.  Its  function  is 
primarily  to  maintain  a  sufficient  depth  of  water  in  tlie 


INTERIOR  OF  ECONOMY  LIGHT  AND  I'OWKK  PLANT  AT  JOLIET,  ILLINOIS 


Illinois  &  Micliigan  Canal  for  tlie  operation  of  canal  boats. 
The  water  is  lifted  from  the  river  into  the  canal,  a  height 
varying  from  three  to  seven  feet,  according  to  the 
height  of  the  river.  Incidentally,  also,  this  pumping 
station  keeps  the  water  in  the  soutli  l^ranch  of  the  Chicago 
169 


170 


The     Chicago 


river    in    circulation,    thereby    greatl}'    improving    tlie 
sanitary  conditions. 

The  pumping  station  consists  of  a  long,  narrow  build- 
ing, through  the  length  of  which  is  the  wheel  pit,  in 
which  are  located  five  impeller  pumps  manufactured  at 
Connersville,  Ind.,  each  liaving  a  capacity  of  7,000  cubic 
feet  per  minute  when  running  at  70  revolutions  per  min- 
ute, and  designed  to  pump  at  a  head  varying  between 
three   and  seven  feet.      A  line    shaft  extends  the  entire 


MOTOR    AND    CONNECTION,    MAIN    SHAFT    OK    BKlDGKi'OKT    PUMPING 
PLANT 


length  of  the  building,  being  in  three  sections,  a  short 
section  at  the  center  and  two  long  sections  extending 
in  each  direction  to  the  end  of  the  building.  By  means 
of  friction  clutches  the  three  sections  can  be  thrown 
together,  or  the  center  section  can  be  operated  in 
conjunction  with  either  end  section.  To  the  outer  end 
of  each  of  the  long  sections  is  belted  a  General  Elec- 
tric, 14-pole,  300-horse-power,  514-revolutions-per- 
minute,  2,080-volt,  three-phase,  60-cycle  induction 
motor.     To  each   of   tlie  long  sections   of   shafting  are 


Electrical     Ha  n d b o o k 


171 


belted  two  of  the  pumps,  and  to  the  center  section, 
one  pump;  the  arrangement  being  such  that  the  latter 
may  be  dri\en  from  either  motor  bj'  properly  manipu- 
lating the  clutches  above  referred  to. 

The  power  for  operating  the  motors  is  received  over 
a  long-distance  transmission  line  from  tfhe  Economy 
Light  ct  Power  Company's  plant,  which  is  located  on  and 
receives  power  from  the  Drainage  Canal,  at  Joliet,  111., 
thirtj'-five  miles  distant.     The  current   is  three  phase , 


POWER    HOUSE    AND    D.\M,    ECONOMY    LIGHT    AND    FOWEK    COMPANY 


60  cycle,  and  the  line  voltage  31,000.  The  three  trans- 
mission wires  enter  the  end  of  the  building  through 
suitable  openings,  and  are  tied  to  insulators  on  each 
side  thereof,  the  lightning  arresters  being  located  on  the 
wall  of  the  building  immediately  below.  The  conduc- 
tors are  led  from  the  insulators  into  the  primary  windings 
of  three  water-cooled,  200-kilowatt,  General  Electric 
single-phase  transformers,  having  primaries  wound  for 
31,000  and  29,000  volts,  and  the  secondaries  for  2,300 
volts.  Reactance  coils  are  placed  between  the  trans- 
formers and  the  point  at  which  the  lightning  arrester 


172 


The     C h i c a 


90 


connections  are  made.  The  secondary  conductors  from 
the  transformers  are  led  to  the  motor  panels,  one  for 
each  motor.  Each  panel  contains  an  automatic  oil 
switch,  voltmeter,  ammeter,  and  the  necessary  current 
and  potential  transformers  for  these  instruments. 

The  motors  are  proxided  with  polar  wound  armatures 


INTERIOR    OF    BRIDGEPORT    PUMPING    PLANT 


and  starting  resistances  mounted  in  the  spiders  of  the 
rotors  and  are  connected  directly  to  the  panels. 

Since  the  pumps  are  of  a  type  having  an  initial  suction 
and  at  times  must  be  started  against  a  head  of  as  much 
as  seven  feet,  and  as  no  clutches  are  provided  on  the 
shafting  to  enable  the  motors  to  be  started  without  load, 
it  is  necessary  that  the  motors  should  start  at  least  two 
of  the  pumps  under  full  load,  which  they  readily  do,  com- 
ing up  to  normal  speed  in  something  less  than  a  minute. 
By  reason  of  the  starting  resistance  and  the  polar  wind- 
ings  of   the    rotors,    they    accomplish    this    without    an 


K  led  r  i  c  a  I      II  a  h  d  h  o  o  k  1 7.'J 

abnormal  rush  of  line  current  or  appreciable  drop  in  the 
line  voltage. 

A  novel  feature  about  this  installation  is  that  the 
water  which  is  pumped  by  it  into  the  Illinois  &  Michigan 
Canal  finds  its  way  into  the  water  wheels  of  the  gen- 
erating plant  at  Joliet,  thirty-five  miles  away,  and  is 
utilized  in  producing  power  for  the  operation  of  the 
pumps.  In  other  words,  the  pumping  plant  provides 
part  of  the  power  to  drive  itself.  It  is  estimated  that  the 
water  utilized  in  this  way,  after  deducting  all  losses 
(including  the  evaporation  and  seepage  generator, 
line  and  motor  losses) ,  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  200 
horse-power  of  the  600  horse-power  needed  to  do  the 
pumping.  Or,  to  put  it  in  another  way,  the  motors 
furnish  600  horse-power  at  their  pulleys  with  an  actual 
net  consumption  of  approximately  400  horse-power. 

The  cut  on  page  172  illustrates  the  interior  of  the 
pumping  plant  and  shows  the  tops  of  the  pumps,  and  at 
the  farther  end,  one  of  the  motors.  The  motor  at  the 
opposite  end  is  shown  in  the  cut  on  page  170.  This  cut 
aleo  shows  the  three  step-down  transformers,  the  open- 
ings on  the  wall  for  bringing  in  the  transmission  wires, 
and  just  below  the  latter  the  lightning  arresters. 

The  Economy  Light  &  Power  Company's  dam  and 
power  house,  at  Joliet,  are  shown  in  cut  on  page  171, 
and  the  interior  of  the  power  house,  with  one  of  the 
generators  in  the  foreground,  is  illustrated  on  page  169. 


Packing;  by   Rlcctricity 

The  packing  industry  of  Clue-ago  is  conceded  to  be  one 
of  the  most  interesting  and  important  commercial  estab- 
Ushments  in  the  world.  The  Stock  Yards  proper,  cover- 
ing an  area  of  a  mile  square,  form  an  example  of  the 
scale  upon  which  this  business  is  conducted.  The 
packing  houses  west  of  the  Stock  Yards  cover  an  area  of 
one-half  mile  liy  one  mile. 

Swift  &  Company  occupy  a  portion  of  this  area,  their 
plant  covering  forty-seven  acres  of  land,  with  a  floor 
space  of  eighty-seven  and  three-quarter  acres.  The  dif- 
ferent branches  of  the  industry  are  here  conducted  on  the 
most  modern  lines,  approved  for  the  quickest  and  best 
conversion  of  live  animals  to  finished  food  products  and 
their  various  by-product  accessories. 

Cattle  are  slaughtered  in  their  Chicago  plant  at  a  rate 
of  240  per  hour,  hogs  700  per  hour  and  sheep  620  per 
hour. 

The  refrigerating  plant  has  a  daily  capacity  equal  to 
that  furnished  by  2,500  tons  of  ice.  They  employ 
23,000  people,  and  their  distributive  sales  for  1903 
exceeded  $200,000,000. 

At  present,  Ijesides  several  outlying  steam-power  plants, 
they  have  a  central  electrical  generating  station,  which 
furnishes  power  to  motors  throughout  the  packing  estab- 
lishment. 

The  boiler  house  contains  6,400  horse-power  hi  Bab- 
cock  k  Wilcox  boilers,  delivering  steam  to  the  engines 
at  150  pounds  pressure.  These  are  equipped  with 
Murphy  stokers  and  with  coal  and  ash  handling  machin- 
ery.    The  stack  is  built  of  brick  and  is  265  feet  high. 

In  the  engine  room  are  installed  three  General  Elec- 
tric,   three-phase     revolving     field,     24()-volt,     60-cycle 
175 


17C  T  h  e     Chicago 

generators.  One  of  these  generators,  of  300  kilowatts 
capacity,  is  direct  connected  to  a  13  x  26  x  48  Filer  & 
Stowell  cross  compound  Corliss  engine;  another,  of  600 
kilowatts  capacity,  is  direct  connected  to  a  19  x  38  x  42 
engine  of  the  same  make,  and  a  1200-kilowatt  generator 
to  a  27  X  54  x  42  engine  of  the  same  make.  All  three 
units  operate   at  a  speed  of  120  revolutions  per  minute. 

There  are  installed  a  total  of  about  3,600  hor.se-power  in 
induction  motors  of  the  General  Electric  Squirrel  Cage 
Motor  type,  and  about  twelve  thousand  230-volt  incandes- 
cent lamps,  besides  a  large  number  of  series  alternating 
current  arc  lamps.  The  motors  range  in  size  from  1  to 
140  horse-power,  the  average  horse-power  per  motor  being 
14.37.  Many  of  these  motors  are  in  odd  and  vmusual 
places,  some  in  coolers  at  zero  temperature,  others  in 
dusty,  dr}'  rooms  at  over  125  degrees  temperature,  and 
numerous  and  novel  special  constructions  have  neces- 
sarily been  developed  in  connection  with  the  motor  in- 
stallation and  wiring  system. 

This  plant  offers  a  striking  example  ot  the  advantages 
possessed  by  induction  motors,  as  the  conditions  in  many 
parts  of  the  plant  are  too  severe  to  admit  of  the  satis- 
factory and  economical  use  of  direct  current  motors. 
Little  or  no  advantage  is  derived  from  the  use  of  the 
multiphase  system  in  respect  to  saving  in  conductors, 
as  it  will  be  noted  that  the  voltage  is  low.  There  were 
originally  several  separate  plants  driving  direct  current 
generators  furnishing  lights  and  power,  all  of  which  were 
abandoned  when  the  alternating  current  system  was  in- 
stalled. This  radical  and  extensive  change  was  long 
contemplated  before  being  made  and  was  the  result  of 
long  and  careful  investigation  and  the  previous  installa- 
tion of  a  smaller  multiphase  plant  in  one  of  Swift  & 
Company's  other  packing  houses,  which  afforded  an 
opportunity  for  actual  and  practical  experience  with 
both  systems.  A  few  synchronous  motors  are  used 
which  tend  to  help  the  power  factor;  one  of  these  is  a 
100-kilowatt  machine,  driving  pumps. 


luteruaiional  Harvester  Coiupauy 
Mccormick  division 

This  plant,  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  complete 
harvesting  machines,  covers  a  large  area,  cut  in  half  bv 
the  Chicago  river,  at  Blue  Island  and  Western  avenues. 
Electric  power  is  distributed  for  all  purposes,  from  the 
driving  of  shafting  in  the  twine  mill  to  the  operation  of 
cranes  in  the  foundry. 

An  interesting  application  of  motors  at  the  plant  is 
the  driving  of  a  coal  pulverizer  by  a  75-horse-power 
Westinghouse  induction  motor,  and  also  a  coal  crusher 
by  a  15-horse-power  Westinghouse  induction  motor, 
using  a  Morse  chain. 

Both  alternating  and  direct  current  is  used ;  550- 
kilowatt  alternating  current  generating  capacity  in  two 
units,  three-phase,  7,200  alternations,  440  volts,  one  of 
which,  a  300-kilowatt  Westinghouse,  is  shown  in  the 
accompanying  illustration.  There  is  approximately  900- 
kilowatt  direct  current  generating  capacity  in  seven 
units,  250  volts,  two  motor-generator  sets,  one  200-kilo- 
watt  and  one  100-kilowatt,  consisting  of  induction 
motors  driving  direct  current  generators. 

Another  illustration  shows  a  direct  connected  exciter 
unit  at  this  plant. 

DEERING  PLANT 

One  of  the  largest  of  Chicago's  great  manufacturing 
institutions  is  that  of  the  International  Harvester  Com- 
pany's Deering  plant,  which  was  founded  by  William 
Deering  in  December,  1880.  The  intervening  period  of 
less  than  twenty-four  years,  Avhich  has  witnessed  the 
gigantic  development  of  the  electrical  industry,  has  also 
seen  an  enormous  growtli  in  this  particular  factory. 
177 


178 


T  h  c     C  h  i  c  a  y  o 


Starting  in  with  kerosene  oil  lamps  andaSOO-horse-power, 
belted,  non-condensing  engine,  500  horse-power  in  tubular 
boilers,  one  night  watchman,  an  errand  boy,  and  a  few 
hundred  men,  this  industry  has  grow^n  until  at  present 


300-KILO\VATT,    ALTERNATING    CIRRENT    WESTINGHOUSE 
GENERATOR 


there  are  12,000  incandescent  lamps,  10,000  horse-power 
in  compound  condensing  engines  (of  which  6,500  horse- 
power is  electrically  connected),  9,000  horse-power  of 
watertube  boilers,  1,000  horse-power  of  air  hoist,  twent}-- 
four  w-atchmen,  7,000  men,  a  plant  covering  85  acres  of 


E  led  r  i  (•  n  I      11  a  ii  d  h  o  o  /,■ 


17f) 


ground,  and,  last  hut  not  least,  100  tclcplioiios  to  replace 
the  solitary  errand  hoy. 

In  1<S97,  in  huilding;  a  new  twine  cordage  mill,  the 
question  whether  another  large  steam  plant,  directly 
driving  lines  of  shafting,  should  he  installed,  or  whether 
electricity  should  he  used,  was  decided,  as  would  he 
expected  from  a  progressive  management  like  the  Deer- 
ing,  in  fa\-or  of  tlie  latter;   and  in  taking  up  with  the  n(Mv 


DIRECT  CONNECTED   EXCITER  SET 


order  of  things,  the  Deerings  became  pioneers  in  extend- 
ing the  use  of  the  most  effective  system  of  electrical 
drive,  namely,  the  multiphase  induction  motor. 

The  first  multiphase  installation  was  put  into  opera- 
tion in  the  spring  of  1S9S,  with  about  1,000  horse-power 
in  motors  and  one  750-kilowatt,  100-revolution,  600- 
volt,  three-phase,  40-cycle,  General  Electric  generator, 
direct    comiected    to    an    Allis    Corliss    liorizontal    cross- 


180  The     Chicago 

compound  engine.  This  engine  was  installed  in  the  same 
power  house  with  the  engine  installed  originally  for 
driving  the  machinery  in  the  first  twine  mill  through  the 
intermediary  of  belting  and  shafting,  and  was  found 
eminently  satisfactory,  reducing  fire  risk  at  the  mills, 
increasing  greatly  the  flexibility  of  the  system  and 
showing  an  even-up  economy  with  the  belt  dri^'en  mill, 
which  was  located  closely  adjacent  to  the  engine  room, 
whereas  the  electrically  operated  mill  was  500  feet 
away. 

The  success  of  this  installation  led  the  management, 
later  on,  in  the  fall  of  1899,  and  throughout  the  year  1900, 
to  centralize  the  power  for  the  rest  of  the  plant.  Old 
steam  plants  and  obsolete  apparatus  were  abandoned 
and  sold,  and  in  their  place  were  installed  modern  revolv- 
ing field,  direct  connected,  three-phase,  General  Electric 
generators  and  Allis  Corliss  vertical  cross-compound  con- 
densing engines.  The  voltage  and  frequency  maintain- 
ing in  the  twine  mill  plant  was  made  standard,  and  induc- 
tion motors  of  the  squirrel  cage  armature  type  installed 
for  driving  the  different  line  shaft  sections  throughout 
the  works.  An  old  power  plant,  in  which  were  a  number 
of  bipolar  Edison  generators,  single-phase  alternators, 
direct  current  power  generators,  and  series  arc  light  gen- 
erators, belted  to  a  common  shaft,  which  in  turn  was 
driven  by  a  Ijelted  engine,  was  not  abandoned,  but  a  250- 
kilowatt  synchronous  motor  was  installed  and  belted  to 
the  line  shafting  to  drive  it  during  the  day  time  and  to 
be  utilized,  if  necessary,  as  a  generator,  by  starting  up 
the  engine  driving  into  this  shafting.  This  machine, 
running  as  a  sjiichronous  motor  during  the  day  time, 
operates  with  a  light  actual  load,  but  with  full  ampere 
load  as  a  condenser,  which  materially  helps  the  power 
factor  of  the  system,  which,  without  the  condenser,  is 
about  83  per  cent  and  with  it  over  91  per  cent. 

The  equipment  of  the  new  power  house  embraces  the 
following: 

Two  1,100-kilowatt,  3-phase,  -lO-cycle,  600-volt,  90* 
I  evolutions  per  minute.  General  Electric  revolving  field 


Electrical     Handbook  181 

generators,  direct  comieotod  to  Alli.s  vertical  cross-coin- 
pound  engines  witli  cylinders  2,S  .x  GO  x  4S. 

One  750-kilowatt,  3-pliase,  40-cycle,  600  volt,  90^ 
revolutions  per  minute,  also  direct  connected  to  Allis 
vertical  cross-componud  engine. 

One  60-kilowatt,  r25-volt,  280  revolutions  per  minute 
exciter,  direct  connected  to  General  Electric  vertical 
compoimd  engine. 

A  Weiss  condenser,  Coclirane  feed  water  heater,  Green 
mechanical  stoker  and  Hoppes  water  purifiers  are  used. 

There  are  four  Edgemoor  boilers,  each  having  6,666 
square  feet  of  heathig  surface;  two  Stirling  boilers  each 
havnig  3,750  square  feet  of  heating  surface;  one  Stirling 
boiler  having  4,500  square  feet  of  heating  surface;  one 
Heine  boiler  having  3,750  square  feet  of  heating  surface. 

The  chimney  is  16  feet  3  inches  inside  diameter,  and 
it  is  250  feet  high. 

In  this  plant  it  is  customary  to  stop  and  start  a  large 
portion  of  the  factory  from  the  throttle  of  the  engines, 
which  is  rendered  possible  by  energizing  the  field  of  the 
generators,  before  starting,  from  the  independently 
driven  exciters. 

The  lighting  is  taken  care  of  by  transformers  located 
at  convenient  and  economical  points  about  the  plant. 

The  induction  motor  sizes  range  from  10  horse-power 
to  100  horse-power,  75's  and  50's  predominating. 


Electric   Hire    riniip 

The  accoinpaiiying  cuts  illustrate  an  application  of  the 
electric  motor  in  a  field  which  is  somewhat  new,  namely, 
the  operation  of  fire  pumps.  The  outfit  shown  in  the 
cuts  is  installed  in  the  nuimmoth  wholesale  estal)lish- 
ment  of  the  firm  of  Marshall  Field  <fe  Company,  Chicago 


ELECTRIC    FIRE    PUMP    MOTOR,    MARSHALL    FIELD    &    CO.    WHOLESALE 
BUILDING 


whose   reputation    is    world-wide,    and    may    he    l)riefly 
described  as  follows: 

The    motor    is    enclosed    and    waterproof,    of    General 

Electric    make,  100    horse-power    capacity,    230    volts, 

shunt  wound,  and  has  a  fan  mounted  on  a  shaft  inside 

the  frame  between  the  armature  and  pinion  end  liearing;, 

18;? 


184 


The     Chicago 


the  purpose  of  which  is  to  ventilate  tlie  windings  by 
drawing  air  through  a  large  wrought  iron  pipe  screwed 
into  a  flange  on  the  front  side  of  the  motor  casing.  The 
air  passes  through  the  motor  and  is  discharged  through 
a  similar  opening  at  the  opposite  end,  thus  keeping  the 
windings  at  a  safe  temperature  and  materially  reducing 
the  size  of  the  motor. 

The  electric  conductors  to  the  motor  are  let  in  through 
a  pipe  screwed  into  the  casing  and  the  construction  is 


ELECTRIC   FIRE    PUMP   MOTOR,    M.\RSHALL   FIELD    &    CO.    WHOLES.\LE 
BI'ILDIXG 


such  that  a  fire  stream  of  water  can  be  played  upon  the 
motor,  or  it  can  be  completely  submerged  without  injury. 
The  pump  is  a  Laidlow-Dun-Gordon,  85  inch  by  12 
inch  duplex,  60  revolutions  per  minute,  and  is  geared  to 
the  motor  through  a  single  reduction  gearing.  The 
pump  is  connected  to  the  sprinkler  system  with  Avhich 
the  entire  building  is  equipped.  The  pressure  of  the 
sv.stem  is  maintained  at  100  pomids  per  square  inch  by 
means  of  a  pressure  gauge,  >o  constructed  tliat  when  the 


Electrical      Handbook  18.5 

pressure  drops  below  100  pounds,  the  needle,  or  hand  of 
the  gauge,  completes  an  electric  circuit  through  a  control- 
ler, which  starts  the  motor  automatically.  When  the 
pressure  increases  to  the  desired  amount,  the  gauge  hand 
completes  another  circuit  tlirough  the  controller  and 
stops  the  motor. 

The  controller  is  also  waterproof  and  the  whole  installa- 
tion is  so  designed  that  its  operation  will  not  be  inter- 
fered with  in  case  the  basement  in  which  it  is  located 
should  become  filled  with  water.  The  outfit  was 
designed  to  meet  the  specifications  of  the  Underwriters 
Bureau  of  Fire  Protection,  which  is  coming  to  favor 
installations  of  this  nature,  after  having  investigated  the 
subject  very  thoroughly  during  the  past  two  or  three 
years. 

The  current  for  operating  the  above-described  electric 
fire  pump  is  obtained  from  the  circuits  of  the  Chicago 
Edison  Company  through  its  underground  system  of  con- 
ductors, so  that  the  operation  of  the  pump  would  not  be 
interfered  with  by  a  shutting  down  of  the  steam  plant  of 
the  Marshall  Field  Building  due  to  fire  in  the  })uilding  or 
other  causes;  nor  would  a  shut-down  of  operations  in 
any  one  of  the  Chicago  Edison  stations  or  substations 
deprive  the  pump  of  its  source  of  power,  as  the  Chicago 
Edison  Company's  system  is  so  arranged  that  the  current 
could  be  svipplied  through  their  other  stations. 


Rlectrically  Opcratai  Lift  and  Draiv 
Bridges  in   Chicago 

EFFECT  A  (J HEAT  SAVING  OVER  STEAM 

In  its  industrial  applications  electricity  is  especially 
valuable  in  the  operation  of  lift  and  draw  bridges.  The 
power  necessary  to  open  and  close  these  bridges  is  not 
required  all  the  time,  but  may  l)e  wanted  at  any  moment, 
and  in  installations  where  steam  is  used  for  this  purpose, 


ASHLAND   AVENUE   BHIDGE,    Ol'EN 

it  is  necessary  to  keep  tlie  fire  going  at  all  times  to  meet 
the  demands.  Continually  maintaining  a  proper  steam 
pressure  necessitates  a  large  consumption  of  coal  and 
consequently  a  high  operating  cost. 

The  City  of  Chicago  has  found  by  actual  experience 
that  the  cost  of  operating  l)riuges  has  been  greatly 
reduced  by  the  substitution  of  electricity  for  steam, 
and  a  consideral)Ie  saving  in  the  time  required  to 
open  and  close  the  bridges  has  also  been  effected.  As 
the  electric  power  is  consumed  only  when  the  bridge  is 
in  actual  operation,  the  cost  is  small  as  compared  with 
coal;  the  maintenance  is  also  much  less  than  with  steam 
engines  and  boilers. 

187 


188 


The     Chic  a  y  o 


Before  the  advent  of  steam  operated  bridges,  the 
heaviest  ones  required  several  men  to  handle  them,  and 
the  service  was  slow  and  unsatisfactory.  Speed  and 
control  are  the  requisites  of  modern  methods,  and  the 


.>*.-. 


^ai- 


ASHLAND  AVENUE  BRIDGE,   CLOSED 

old    method   of   hand    operation    is    iuisuital)le    for    the 
larger  bridges. 

Chicago   now  has   twenty   bridges   operated  by   elec- 
tricity, four  operated  by  steam  and  twenty-four  bv  hand 


CLYBOURN  PLACE   BRIDGE,  CLOSED 


power.  The  increase  in  speed  obtained  in  turning  the 
bridges  electrically  is  estimated  by  the  City  Bridge 
Engineer  to  be  25  per  cent  over  steam  operation,  and  at 
least  75  per  cent  over  hand  operation.  In  some  cases 
the    old    liand-operated    bridges    reciuircd    from    ten    to 


E led  r  i cal     H a  n  d b  o o  k 


189 


t\vcl\e  niinutc'8  to  make  a  (ivuirter  turn,  which  can  now 
be  made  in  from  thirty-five  to  forty  seconds. 

Among  the  liridges  operated  by  electricity  are  the 
following,  and  over  some  of  them  flows  an  enormous 
traffic : 

Adams  St.;  Clybourn  Place;  I^oomis  St.;  Clark  St.; 
Dearborn  St.;  North  Halsted  St.;  18th  St.;  Jackson  St.; 
Randolph  St.;  Rush  St.;  Van  Buren  St.;  Wa.'^hington 
St.;   Lake  St.;  North  Western  Ave.;  and  Wells  St. 

For  these  bridges  the  street  and  elevated  railway  com- 
panies whose  tracks  cross  them  furnish  the  current  at  a 
cost  of  .f50  per  ntonth  or  less,  in  some  cases  no  charge 


CLYBOURN    PLACE    BRIDGE    OPKX 


being  made;  excepting  in  the  case  of  the  Rush  street 
bridge,  for  which  current  is  obtained  from  the  Chicago 
Edison  Company  at  a  cost  of  about  $100  per  month. 

The  coal  only  for  the  steam-operated  bridges  averages 
about  $63  per  month,  and  the  coal  bill  for  the  South  Hal- 
sted street  l)ridge  alone  amounts  to  over  $200  a  month. 

Some  interesting  data  regarding  a  number  of  the  elec- 
trically operated  bridges  was  published  in  the  Twenty- 
third  Annual  Report  of  the  Department  of  Public  Works 
for  1898,  and  the  extract  from  this  report  tabulated  here- 
with is  of  considerable  interest. 


1!)0 


T  h  e     Chicago 


MOTOR   CONTROLLING   PANEL   AND    K-10  CONTROLLER    FOR    OPERAT- 
ING CLYBOURN   PLACE   BRIDGE 


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193 


It  will  1)C'  noted  that  tin"  bridges  ou  which  the  data  is 
given  in  this  tabulation  have  an  average  weight  of 
over  ()()()   tons,  while  each  briclgc  swings    on   an   average 


MOTOR  SUSPENSION,    CLYBOURN   PLACE   BRIDGE 


nearly    5,000    times   a  year,    three    minutes   being    the 
average  time  required  for  each  swing. 

The  accompanying  cuts  illustrate  the  Ashland  avenue 
bridge  open  and  closed,  and  the  Clybouru  Place  bridge 
open  and  closed,  also  a  portion  of  the  operator's  room 
and  the  operating  machinery  below  the  liridge. 


400-KILOWATT    WESTINGHOUSE    GENERATOR    AT    FAC'TOHV    OF 
W.    W.    KIMBALL   COMPANY 

II  \  ir.  Ki)uball  Company 

In  tlie  manufacture  of  pianos  and  organs  the  Kiniljall 
Company  use  electric  power  tlirougliout  their  factory. 
A  400-kilo\vatt,Westingliouse,  three-phase,  7,200-alterna- 
tion,  440-volt  generator,  100  revolutions  per  minute,  as 
illustrated  in  the  view,  carries  a  load  of  500  horse-power 
of  induction  motors  in  various  sizes,  which  are  used  to 
drive  line  shafting  and  various  kinds  of  machinery  pecul- 
iar to  this  industrv. 


195 


The    Illinois  Sfccl  Coiipaiiy 

Among  the  ino.st  interesting  of  all  nianufaeturing  plants 
in  which  electric  power  is  used  are  those  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  iron  and  steel.  The  magnitude  of  the 
electrical  equipment  required  for  large  plants  of  s\ich 
character,  and  the  wide  divergence  of  uses  to  which  elec- 
tric power  is  put,  together  with  the  somewhat  peculiar 


VIEW    OF    DIRECT   CURRENT    STATION    HEP'ORE    REMODELING 


features  of  application,  afford  tjie  interest  to  the  elec- 
trical engineer.  The  plant  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company 
at  South  Chicago  perhaps  may  be  taken  as  typical  of  this 
class  of  works.  In  that  plant,  the  use  of  electric  power 
began  about  the  year  1894,  by  the  installation  of  a  100- 
kilowatt  generating  station.  Many  difficulties  were  met, 
197 


198 


The     Chicago 


some  of  which  were  successfully  overcome  at  that  time, 
and  some  of  which  caused  much  prejudice  in  the  minds 
of  some  of  the  mill  operatives,  which  operated  to  restrain 
the  rapid  increase  in  the  use  of  electric  power.  Notwith- 
standing these  obstacles,  however,  in  a  couple  of  years 
it  was  found  necessary  to  have  generating  capacity  five 
times  as  great  as  that  originally  installed.  Within  two 
j^ears  more,  it  was  necessary  to  build  a  new  station  of 
1,100-kilowatt  capacity.  By  1901  this  had  been  doubled 
again.     By   1903   it    was    again   increased,   and,   at    the 


PRESSING    REVOLVIXG    FIELD    OF     2,000-KILOWATT    WESTIXGHOUSE 
GENERATOR   ON    ENGINE   SHAFT 


present  time,  a  new  station  of  4,CCC-lcilowatt  capacity- 
is  being  added  to  the  present  station  of  3,000  kilowatts. 
During  the  time  covered  by  these  various  extensions, 
the  attitude  of  steel  men  toward  electric  power  rapidly 
changed  from  opposition  to  enthusiastic  encouragement. 
At  first  it  was  thought  necessary  always  to  provide  a 
steam  reserve  for  every  electric  motor  installed,  and  also 
to  l)e  careful  in  installing  motors  to  see  that  no  depart- 
ment would  he  shut  down  by  the  crippling  of  the  source 
of  electric  supply.  The  continued  use  of  motors,  how- 
ever, demonstrated  this  type  of  macliinery  to  be  fully  as 


Electrical     Handbook  199 

reliable  as  any  other  type  and,  in  fac-t,  consideraljly  more 
so.  Within  a  very  few  years  it  was  found  tliat  the  con- 
dition had  practically  been  reached  where  cutting  down 
the  source  of  electric  supply  would  seriously  disable  all 
departments  of  the  steel  plant.  When  it  was  found  that 
this  condition  existed,  it  was  evident  to  all  that  the 
proper  metliod  was  to  extend  the  use  of  electric  power 
as  widely  as  possible  and  to  provide  ample  reserve  in 
generating  capacity.  In  pursuance  of  this  idea,  the 
Illinois  Steel  Company  has  taken  every  precaution  pos- 
sible to  insure  the  continuity  and  reliability  of  service. 

To  insure  absolute  continuity  of  service,  there  are  two 
separate    generating   stations.     In    one   there    are    four 


OKE  BRIDGE,  SOUTH  CHIC.\GO 

direct  current  units,  aggregating  2,800  kilowatts,  and  in 
the  other,  under  process  of  construction,  there  are  two 
alternating  current  units,  each  2,000  kilowatts.  The 
two  electric  stations  are  connected  by  means  of  one  1 ,000- 
kilowatt  and  two  500-kilowatt  rotary  converters,  which 
float  on  the  system,  being  connected  to  both  alternating 
current  and  direct  current  sides.  Through  them,  when 
needed,  power  can  be  supplied  to  the  direct  current  mains 
from  the  alternating  current  station,  or  to  the  alternating 
current  mains  from  the  direct  current  station.  Further 
reliability  is  secured  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  the  boilers 
furnishing  steam  to  the  engines  in  both  stations  are  fired 
by  blast  furnace  gases  from  separate  >()urces  of  supply. 


200 


T  h  e     C  h  i  c  a 


90 


whose  mains  are  connected  together,  with  the  further 
provision  that  either  battery  of  boilers  can  be  fired  with 
coal,  should  the  gas  fail. 

The  accompanying  illustrations  show  the  direct  cur- 


SKIP  HOIST,  ILLINOIS  STEEL,  COMPANY 


rent  station  and  give  a  view  of  the  new  alternating 
current  station,  taken  during  the  interesting  process  of 
pressing  the  revolving  field  of  a  2,000-kilowatt  Westing- 
house  generator  on  the  shaft  of  the  engine  by  which  it  is 
to  be  driven. 


K I c  ct  r  ic a  I     II  a  ii  d  h  o  o  /,• 


201 


The  current,  both  alternating  and  direct,  is  trans- 
mitted throughout  the  plant  hy  overhead  construc- 
tion. The  alternating  current  generated  at  2,200 
Aolts  3-phase,  25-cycle,  is  stepped  down  at  various 
points,  through  banks  of  static  transformers,  for  use 
in  motors  of  comparatively  small  size,  440  volts.  Large 
motors  are  operated  at  2,000  volts;   3,000  horse-power 


MOTOK   CEMENT   PLANT,    ILLINOIS   STEEL   COMPANY 


is  stepped  up  in  the  alternating  current  station  by  static 
transformers  to  20,000  volts,  and  transmitted  ten  miles 
down  the  lake  shore  to  a  cement  plant  having  daily 
output  of  4,000  barrels.  There  is  no  power  generated  at 
the  cement  plant,  which,  therefore,  depends  entirely  upon 
the  transmission  line.  There  are  here  used  induction 
motors  of  the  short-circuited  secondary  type,  aggregating 
3,000  horse-power. 


202  The     Chicago 

At  two  points  in  the  yards  of  tlie  Steel  Plant  proper 
there  are  located  two  rotary  converter  substations,  each 
containing  a  500-kilowatt  rotary  converter,  transform- 
ing alternating  current  to  direct  current. 

This  comprehensive  plant,  coupled  with  first-class 
construction,  precludes  break-downs  of  any  extent  and 
enables  any  small  break-dowai  to  be  isolated,  fo  that  its 
effect  is  limited  to  the  smallest  degree. 

The  electric  motor  is  used  in  almost  every  process,  and 
among  such  uses  there  are  a  number  of  interesting  appli- 
cations. The  accompanying  illustration  gives  a  view  of 
a  large  ore  bridge  which  spans  the  ore  yard-  This 
bridge  is  operated  electrically  in  all  of  its  movements,  and 
resembles  a  huge  traveling  crane. 

Another  accompanying  view  illustrates  the  applica- 
tion of  motors  to  skij?  hoists,  the  control  being  automatic 
and  affording  safeguards  against  exceeding  the  limits  of 
travel  when  dumping  ore  into  the  blast  furnaces. 

By  means  of  the  electric  motor  used  in  driving  a 
cold  saw  for  cutting  steel  rails,  it  has  been  found  possible 
to  so  adjust  the  speed  of  the  saw  that  maximum  cutting 
capacity,  minimum  wear  and  minimum  power  expended 
can  be  secured  with  each  size  of  rail  cut,  a  condition 
which  could  not  be  attained  when  the  cold  saw  was 
driven  by  a  steam  engine. 

Motors  are  used  extensively  throughout  the  plant  for 
traveling  cranes.  Gantry  cranes,  hoists,  elevators  and 
blowers;  they  are  used  to  drive  line  shafting,  machine 
tools,  incandescent  and  arc  lighting  generators,  and,  in 
fact,  are  put  to  every  purpose  within  the  capacity  of  an 
electric  motor.  In  fact,  the  use  of  electrically  trans- 
mitted power  is  so  extensive  in  this  plant  that  after  the 
gradual  growth  to  the  present  condition,  it  is  found  that 
every  essential  process  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  and 
steel  is  dependent,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  upon  the 
continuity  of  service  rendered  by  the  machinery  em- 
ployed, which  is  absolutely  insured  by  the  arrangement 
of  the  stations  in  the  circuits. 

At  the  works  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  at  Joliet. 


E  led  r  i  c  a  I      II  a  n  d  h  o  o  k 


203 


Illinois,  there  i.s  used  a  500-kilo\vatt  \Vestiiifi;liouse  rotary 
converter  (which  is  shown,  togetlier  with  station  switch- 
board, in  the  accompanying  photograph),  for  the  purpose 
of  transforming  alternating  currents  purchased  from  the 
local  power  company  into  direct  current  for  use  in  the  mills. 


500-KILOWATT     ROTARY     CONVERTER     AND     STATION    SWITCHBOARD 

At  the  North  Works  of  this  company  there  is  a  direct 
current  plant  of  approximately  300-kilowatt  capacity, 
furnishing  current  for  motors  throughout  the  plant;  and 
at  the  Milwaukee  Works  there  is  a  direct  current  plant 
of  approximately  700-kilowatt  capacity,  carrying  large 
loads  of  various  sizes  for  use  in  the  works. 


-^"^wiiE!^ 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Series  94H2 


A     000  587  483     9 


